‘US must send an envoy to India soon’
THE US must do more with India and send an envoy to New Delhi soon, a retired top American admiral and commander has told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing on the Chinese threat to America’s national security.
There has been no US Ambassador to India for more than two years now, the longest period of absence of an American envoy in New Delhi. The Senate is yet to confirm the Biden administration’s nomination of Eric Garcetti, the former Los Angeles Mayor as the US Ambassador to India.
‘It is important that we do more with India. It’s important that we get an ambassador there so that a Senate-confirmed ambassador representing the president would be in place. But we haven’t had one now for over two years,’ Admiral (rtd) Harry Harris, who headed US Indo-Pacific Command for three years, told members of the House Armed Services Committee during the hearing on the Chinese threats to US National Defence.
In July 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Garcetti, 52, as his Ambassador to India.
His nomination was initially blocked by Republican Senator Chuck Grassley because of allegations of inappropriate behaviour by one of his senior staffers.
Though the hold on his nomination was lifted, he could not be confirmed by the last Congress.
President Biden in January renominated Garcetti as his envoy to India.
Responding to a question from Congressman Rich McCormick, Admiral Harris said the relationship between India and the US has improved a lot.
‘I’m glad that our relationship with India is improving,’ he said.
Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said China is the most challenging national security threat America has faced in 30 years.
‘If we fail to acknowledge that and take immediate action to deter it, the next 30 years could be devastating for our nation,’ he said.