New Delhi: Eric Garcetti, who is a close aide of President Joe Biden, was on Wednesday (March 15, 2023) confirmed by the US Senate as the country’s next ambassador to India. The Senate voted 52-42 to fill a key diplomatic post that has been vacant for more than two years. The former Los Angeles mayor’s nomination has been pending before the US Congress since July 2021, when she was nominated by Biden for the coveted diplomatic posting.
Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted 13-8 in favor of his nomination.
His nomination was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote during the last Congress because the ruling Democratic Party did not have enough support for Biden’s close ally to get it.
proud to support @Joe Biden for President. He’s a close friend who has been an incredible partner in delivering progress for LA – on climate, #RaiseTheWageLA even more. We need to bring our country and the world together during this divisive and dangerous time. pic.twitter.com/fVRDazM86o— Eric Garcetti (@ericgarcetti) January 10, 2020
Garcetti, 52, was not confirmed by the Senate in President Biden’s first two years in office amid concerns by some lawmakers that the then-mayor did not adequately handle allegations against the former senior adviser of sexual assault and harassment.
President Biden re-nominated Garcetti to the same position in January this year.
Kenneth Juster, the last resident of the US Ambassador’s residence in New Delhi, will step down in January 2021 following a change of government in the US.
Who is Eric Garcetti, the new US Ambassador to India?
Eric Garcetti was born on February 4, 1971 in California. H then grew up in the San Fernando Valley and earned a BA and MA from Columbia University.
The new US envoy to India studied at the Oxford and London School of Economics as a Rhodes Scholar and taught at Occidental College and USC.
happy 75th birthday my best friend @Joe Biden, Thank you for a lifetime of making the world a better place. pic.twitter.com/HP8p94wOH4— Eric Garcetti (@ericgarcetti) November 21, 2017
He was an officer in the US Naval Reserve for 12 years and is an avid jazz pianist and photographer.
Garcetti was elected four times by his peers to serve as president of the Los Angeles City Council from 2006 to 2012.
From 2001 until taking office as mayor, he also served as a council member representing the 13th District which includes Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake and Atwater Village.
A fourth-generation Angeleno, Garcetti and his wife, Amy Elaine Weakland, have a young daughter.