‘Embarrassment’ to not have an US Ambassador to India, says Senator Mark Warner

It has been more than two years since the US ambassador to India has been missing. Calling it an "embarrassment", Senator Mark Warner said India-US shared one of the most valuable relations yet no ambassador was appointed. Warner, the chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, also brought up the idea of ​​an "equally qualified" nominee if current nominee Eric Garcetti is unable to get enough votes for senatorial confirmation.

Garcetti, 52, a former mayor of Los Angeles, was nominated by President Joe Biden to be the US ambassador to India in July 2021. His nomination was not put to a vote in the Senate because the ruling Democratic Party did not have enough support to carry him through. Warner, who was part of the Congress delegation to India last week, said Indians had also raised the issue of the ambassador's absence at this important time. “I think the message got across. I think our acting affair with Charles is doing a good job,” he said.

Warner also co-chairs the Senate India Committee, the Senate's largest and only country-specific committee. “Another thing our Indian friends said is that you say these things (about strong ties with India) but you don't even have an ambassador. Now domestic politics got in the way of that (confirmation), but I think we all came away committed to the fact that Mr. Garcetti, who was nominated by the president, needed a vote,” he said.

“If he gets in, great. If he doesn't get in, we need to have an equally qualified and competent person right behind us. We cannot continue this relationship without an ambassador here confirmed by the Senate. It's disrespectful if we don't,” Warner said when asked.

Republicans and some members of Garcetti's own party opposed his nomination due to allegations of sexual misconduct by some staffers in the mayor's office. Although the suspension of his nomination was lifted, he could not be confirmed by the last Congress. Biden renominated Garcetti to the same position this January. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez has scheduled a vote on his nomination for February 28.

However, Republican Senator Marco Rubio delayed his nomination. The committee vote has now been postponed until March 8. “One of these nominees ignored credible allegations of sexual assault in his previous office. I will not turn a blind eye to these absurd nominations that will accelerate the decline of America,” said Rubio, who is vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.