Washington: Powerful US lawmakers and eminent Indian Americans have welcomed the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti as America’s new ambassador to India.
President Joe Biden on Friday announced the nomination of Garcetti, 50, for that role.
“I am honored to accept my nomination to serve in this role,” Mr Garcetti said in a statement after being nominated.
It was widely hailed as an excellent choice.
“Mayor Garcetti is an excellent choice to serve as US ambassador to India. The importance of India to the global economy and national security will only continue to grow over the coming years – and having a steady hand to guide our relationship with that nation is vital,” Senator Dianne Feinstein said.
Garcetti, as the grandson and great-grandson of immigrants, is committed to economic opportunity and justice for all, two bedrock American values that he will effectively champion in India, she said.
Biden’s nomination of Garcetti to serve as next ambassador to India is an important step forward in the US-India partnership as the two countries work together to end the pandemic, increase economic cooperation, and ensure regional security, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi said.
The choice of Garcetti is a mark of how keen the Biden administration is on establishing strong ties with India, said MR Rangaswami, founder chairman of Indiaspora, adding that he has a strong track record as the mayor of America’s second largest city and a personal connection with Biden. “We at Indiaspora are delighted with this development,” he said.
“As Co-Chair of the Congressional India Caucus, I look forward to working with Garcetti to strengthen the relationship between the world’s oldest and largest democracies,” said Congressman Brad Sherman.
Mr Garcetti has a range of international experience, having lived and worked in Asia as well as Europe and Africa.
A Rhodes’ scholar, he has served as Los Angeles’ first Deputy Mayor for International Affairs, where he expanded L.A.’s global ties to bring more jobs, economic opportunity, culture, education, and visitors to the city, according to Los Angeles’ government website.
IMPACT executive director, Neil Makhija also hailed Garcetti’s choice: “As Mayor, Eric Garcetti oversaw the vaccine deployment in the nation’s second largest city, where over 50 per cent of people over the age of 16 are now vaccinated. Garcetti understands the urgency and reality of addressing climate change, is familiar with geopolitics of the Indo-Pacific region from his service in the US Navy.”
