A divided US Senate accepted Eric Garcetti as the country’s new ambassador to India (March 15). This occurs after a prominent diplomatic position remained unfilled for 26 months. By a vote of 52 to 42, the Senate approved Garcetti’s appointment. Since more than two years ago, the United States has been without an ambassador in New Delhi. After the US changed governments in January 2021, Kenneth Juster, the last ambassadorial resident of the US in New Delhi, resigned.
Why did it take two years?
In July 2021, President Joseph Biden proposed Eric Garcetti for the position of ambassador to India. The nomination of the former mayor of Los Angeles was still pending before the US House due to concerns from some senators that Garcetti had handled charges of sexual assault and harassment against a former senior assistant inadequately.
During the previous Congress, the Democratic Party in power was unable to secure enough votes to bring the close aide of Biden to the Senate floor for a vote. Garcetti was renominated for the role by President Biden in January of this year, and now he has officially been made ambassador to India.
Garcetti was ecstatic
Eric Garcetti expressed his delight at the result. “To replace a crucial position that has been unfilled for far too long required a decisive and bipartisan decision. Now comes the challenging part, “he said.
Who exactly is Eric Garcetti?
Prior to the aforementioned affair, Eric Garcetti was a highly respected member of the Democratic Party.
From 2013 to 2022, he presided as Los Angeles’ 42nd mayor. He was the first Jew to serve as mayor and the city’s youngest mayor in 100 years. According to Garcetti’s website, he was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley and graduated from Columbia University with a BA and an MA.
