18 months and counting: No US ambassador to India

The position of US ambassador to India has been vacant for the past 18 months. According to data, it generally takes 6 to 7 months to fill the position but, this is the “longest-ever stretch”. Here’s all you need to know.

Longest-ever period without a US ambassador to India

According to data compiled by a US-based think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), India has not had an ambassador from the US for the last 18 months. While experts believe this is not affecting diplomatic relations, it is “not the best look”. Diplomatic relations between the two nations were first established in November 1946 with the American Embassy in New Delhi. According to Richard Rossow, the Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at CSIS, US ambassadors in India generally take office within six to seven months following their predecessor’s departure. The current gap is more than double the average.

More on the reason behind the gap

The gap is widening as the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, President Biden‘s choice is stalling in the Senate. Rossow added that the seniority of an ambassador is vital for the diplomatic process and smoothening bureaucratic issues. The previous envoy led by Kenneth Juster came to an end in January 2021. However, following it, there have been interim envoys, officially known as the Chargé d’Affaires.

“The Indian government is fairly hierarchical, so we may have difficulties getting certain levels of meetings. Politically connected ambassadors can circumvent the US government bureaucracy when needed to get momentum on new ideas,” stated Rossow. “And ambassadors from the foreign service, with their seniority and internal connections in the State Department, often have an easier time getting different offices to engage and building momentum on a key program,” he added.

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