Indian-Americans have welcomed Eric Garcetti's confirmation as the US ambassador to India with open arms. The people have high hopes as they believe that his close relationship with President Joe Biden will serve the crucial bilateral ties efficiently.
The US Senate voted 52-42, confirming the nomination of the former Los Angeles mayor on Wednesday after an unprecedented delay of more than two years.
This comes at a time when India is holding the G20 presidency and a presidential visit along with several high-profile trips are expected.
Soon after the confirmation of Garcetti's nomination Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer said, "The United States-India relationship is extremely important and it's a very good thing we now have an Ambassador."
Olivia Dalton, Principal Deputy Press Secretary White House, while talking to PTI said, “President Biden believes that we have a crucial and consequential partnership with India and that Mayor Garcetti will make a strong and effective Ambassador.
“The President thanks (Senate Foreign Relations Committee) Chairman (Robert) Menendez and Senators on both sides of the aisle for their thorough consideration and for today’s bipartisan vote to confirm Mayor Garcetti,” Dalton said.
The connection between India and the US is robust and of tremendous strategic, economic, and cultural value, according to Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus and Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
This alliance continues to have a lot of potential for the future as it's built on shared values, supported by expanding economic and trade links, and is bolstered by the Indian diaspora in the US, Warner added.
In addition to congratulating Garcetti on his confirmation, House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Gregory Meeks stated that he is looking forward to work with him to strengthen US-India ties.
The Congressman said, "Our partnership with India has grown exponentially over the past two decades, with deepened bilateral cooperation on every issue imaginable: from trade and investment and climate change to security and public health. Given the critical nature of this partnership, I'm pleased we will finally have an ambassador in New Delhi who can help advance our many shared interests, including finalising the establishment of the United States-India Gandhi-King Development Foundation."
Entrepreneurs and businessmen expressed their happiness at Garcetti's nomination.
Khanderao Kand from the Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies said that he's happy that after more than 600 days, the US would have an ambassador in India. He said, “This appointment is long due and important considering global strategic relations of the US-India and India’s G20 leadership.”
Eminent Indian-American community leader Ajay Bhutoria emphasised Garcetti's work as a co-chair of the Biden-Harris campaign as well as his experience as the former mayor of Los Angeles, where he developed strong relationships with business and political leaders.
He said, "His experience and leadership will be invaluable in strengthening the relationship between the United States and India. As a community leader, I know that this appointment will have a positive impact on the Indian-American community and the broader South Asian community in the United States."
Several other leaders and businessmen congratulated Garcetti on this nomination and expressed that they have high hopes from him.