Biden Told Me India Is Most Important Country In The World To Him: US Ambassador Garcetti

US Ambassador Garcetti said President Biden valued the India-United States relationship highly, stating that India is "the most important country" to him.

US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, underscored the significance of the India-US partnership, highlighting its global implications. Referring to US President Joe Biden's remarks, Garcetti expressed admiration for India and the depth of the bilateral relationship. In an interview with news agency ANI, when asked about Bide's remark that the India-US partnership is most consequential in the world, the envoy quoted Biden, saying, "He has said that privately. He told that to me. He said, Eric, you know, this is the most important country in the world to me when he was asking me to become ambassador."

"Now, I love Joe Biden. We're dear, deep friends for many, many years. I figured, oh, it's just Joe Biden. He says this to every ambassador. France is the most important country. Mexico is the most important country. But he wasn't lying. He meant it because I heard him say it directly in the Oval Office to the Prime Minister, this is the most consequential relationship," he added.

Garcetti stressed the mutual affection between the people of India and the United States, describing the bond as stronger than ever. He stated, "The reality is that Indians love Americans. The reality is Americans love Indians. The bridge has never been stronger. The work that we're doing has never been more important. And it's consequential not just for India and for the United States. It's consequential for the world."

He also mentioned that he has visited 22 states and Union territories of the country within 11 months mentioning Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, and Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu as some of his memorable travels.

The Big Fight Is Between Extremist Ideology, Dictatorship: US Ambassador Garcetti

The US ambassador highlighted the shared commitment to defending democracy against extremist ideologies, both domestically and internationally, "The big fight isn't between each other and these small differences we sometimes have. The big fight is between extremist ideology, dictatorship. We have two democracies that, yes, we have to fight to defend domestically all the time and hopefully internationally the concept of democracy."

Garcetti said, "But is there any country that you'd rather be in than India? For me, as an American, is there any other relationship you'd rather be engaged in? I would certainly not."

Characterising India as the "most exciting place to be in the world," Garcetti expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve as Ambassador. He lauded the vibrancy of India-US ties and underscored the importance of their collaboration in various sectors, from technology to trade, space, and beyond. 

India-US Bilateral Relations

Last year, Biden's acknowledgment of the India-US friendship's significance was reciprocated by Prime Minister Modi. In response to Biden's post on social media, PM Modi affirmed the partnership as a force for global good, reflecting the mutual admiration between the two leaders. PM Modi stated, "I fully agree with you, @POTUS @JoeBiden! Friendship between our countries is a force of global good."

During his inaugural state visit to the US in June 2023, Prime Minister Modi participated in a series of engagements, including meetings with prominent Indian and American CEOs. He was accorded a ceremonial welcome and guard of honour at the White House, where he also attended a state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. Additionally, PM Modi was invited to a State Luncheon by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Vice President Kamala Harris. He also engaged with the Indian diaspora at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, DC.

In September of the preceding year, US President Joe Biden visited New Delhi to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit, during which he held bilateral discussions with PM Modi. Together, they co-hosted a gathering of G20 leaders aimed at accelerating investments in high-quality infrastructure projects and fostering economic connectivity through initiatives such as the India Middle East Europe Economic Connectivity Corridor and the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGI), as stated by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The relationship between India and the US is characterised by a robust global strategic partnership that encompasses a wide range of areas, driven by shared democratic values, convergence of interests on various issues, and vibrant people-to-people contacts, as highlighted by the Ministry of External Affairs.

Earlier, on January 30, US Ambassador Garcetti elaborated on the exponential impact of the India-US partnership, describing it as a "multiplicative relationship." He emphasised the collective strength and influence generated when the two countries collaborate. Garcetti noted, "...What this US-India relationship is about and I've been telling people recently that this is not India plus the United States. It is not an addition, an additive relationship."