Future imperfect for Eric Garcetti in India         

US ambassador in India may be flying back home after poll

By Manish Anand

New Delhi, September 12: The US ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, is staring at an uncertain future. The stunning surge in the fortunes of Kamala Harris has brought spotlight on Garcetti.

The US ambassador is in his New Delhi office for about 17 months. Garcetti was confirmed an ambassador in New Delhi by the US Senate after a prolonged diplomatic vacuum in India.

The Los Angles Times in a report yesterday speculated that Garcetti could be on his way back home if Harris becomes President of the US. The daily argued that Harris and Garcetti had been political rivals.

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The report also claimed that Garcetti had been vacillating in endorsing Harris for the position of the running mate of Joe Biden when he challenged Donald Trump in the 2020 elections.

The US ambassador post in India is a key appointment that has an endorsement of the President. Biden had picked up Garcetti for his India assignment.

But report argued that Harris may have other choice. She has an Indian connection. Her mother was an Indian.

The daily claimed that Harris will pick up her own nominee for new Delhi assignment. In such an event, Garcetti may be flowing back to California.

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“Garcetti’s Senate confirmation took nearly two years, in part because of accusations that as mayor, he looked the other way while a top aide sexually harassed coworkers,” said the LA Times report.

The daily claimed that Garcetti’s role in the case could gain the scrutiny of Harris if she assumes office of the president in Washington. The daily also claimed that “Garcetti has denied seeing anything inappropriate, and a lawsuit by an LAPD officer who alleged the aide harassed him settled for $1.8 million last year”.

In the event of a Trump victory, the exit of Garcetti will also be on the cards. Trump may appoint his confidante in New Delhi.

India and the US bilateral relations have thrived despite change in the governments in Washington. India, US 2+2 format has deepened the strategic cooperations between the two largest democracies of the world.

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Yet, the bilateral relations faced strains lately. The US Justice Department made accusations against “Indian officials” for the failed assassination attempts on Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

The US Justice Department accusations came close on the heels of Canada’s Prime Minister Justine Trudeau levelling charges against India for “assassinations of Sikh activists”. Trudeau had backed his accusations with intelligence sharing from ‘Five Eyes’ consisting of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

However, Garcetti is hailed by the strategic affairs’ experts for smoothening the diplomatic tension. He travels frequently to all parts of India. Garcetti counts deepening the people to people contact as his key achievements.

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About The Author

Manish Anand

Manish Anand is a senior journalist with more than two decades of hardcore reporting on beats such as Prime Minister’s Office, Parliament, BJP, Congress, Planning Commission, NITI Aayog, and scores of Union Ministries.

His past has been with The New Indian Express, The Asian Age/Deccan Chronicle, and The Statesman.

For about 15 years, Manish was also a regular commentator and host for talks on AIR on foreign affairs.

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