The Reason India Does Not Have An American Ambassador Despite Being An ‘Indispensable’ Quad Partner

The Reason India Does Not Have An American Ambassador Despite Being An ‘Indispensable’ Quad Partner

The military and strategic cooperation initiatives have been very slow to progress. Despite statements from high in America that India is a vital ally of the United States and a highly valued quad partner and the signing of several strategic agreements between the two countries, there has yet to be much progress.

However, the US-India partnership has been hailed by the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken as the ‘most consequential partnership in the world’. Beijing, or even bankrupt Islamabad, can only go along with an American ambassador.

Although India is purportedly an important ally and bulwark against Chinese hegemony in the region, nothing is going right. Also, American ambassadors are present in Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

India is the only nation suffering from America’s dysfunctional political system. As a result, routine matters at the American Embassy in New Delhi are not looking good, such as visa issuances to Indians.

The supportive bilateral trade between the two countries, such as pharmaceutical exports from India, has run on automatic pilot, no doubt under the watchful eye of the Charge d’affaires.

As a result of American overtures to Islamabad, the shadows in the empty Roosevelt House have recently increased. The deal includes a $ 450 million upgrade of Pakistan’s F-16 fleet and reaffirming Pakistan’s non-Nato ally status.

The American ambassador to Jammu and Kashmir and other Congressmen have made remarks intended to undermine Indian interests.

China’s hostility along the long LAC has been met mostly with supportive words. China, meanwhile, is relentlessly building infrastructure and offensive military capabilities throughout illegally occupied Indian, Bhutanese, and Nepalese territories.

In what state are American sanctions now, which have been so readily applied to Iran and Russia in the past? Without an American ambassador, it isn’t easy to advance much more than this.

Ambassadors can provide sorely needed content and meaning between India and the US by driving processes and initiatives between the two countries.

However, the State Department and Foggy Bottom of the Pentagon cannot be blamed for India’s doubts about American sincerity.

It is common for American intelligence agencies to perform covert and perfidious activities through the CIA and let down or exploit their allies.

While India was not a strategic partner of the US, it had distinguished and influential American ambassadors. There may have been a desire at that time to wean India away from the influence of the Soviet Union. Has America then become complacent?

Has it concluded that India has nowhere to go? Considering its strained relationship with China, it must rely on America and the West. Are Russian preoccupations with Ukraine making Russia closer to the dragon’s snare?

Despite the conflict and American pressure against the purchase, three of the four S-400 systems ordered by India have been delivered so far by Russia.

It is no secret that Russia has always been a steadfast ally of India, much like the previous USSR. Slavic Russia and Americans have little in common after the Russo-Ukraine War, but their love for each other is unlikely to fade.

The most recent ambassador to New Delhi is an experienced career diplomat, 74 years old. Elizabeth Jones, charged with charge d’affaires, has held the fort since 26 October 2022.

This situation has embarrassed even American senators, who have called it an insult to India. India, on the other hand, has graciously chosen to ignore the problem.

‘Priority’ has diminished for Eric Garcetti’s appointment, according to former Indian Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal. As the current term of the Biden Administration ends in 2024, there is little time left.

According to Sibal, ambassadors usually take about six months to settle into a new country. It was first announced in July 2021 that Garcetti, the 52-year-old American ambassador-designate, would be nominated.

Under his direction, an assistant to a senior political officer is accused of sexual misconduct. In response to the charge, Garcetti has denied it repeatedly. While Garcetti was appointed to a politically critical diplomatic position, several Republicans and Democrats opposed his appointment.

Garcetti has yet to receive Senate confirmation for serving as LA mayor. I expect President Biden to substitute a different candidate for the controversial one.

In January 2023, the incumbent was again confirmed as Ambassador-designate. Senators will vote on Garcetti’s nomination on 28 February 2023.

The nomination was put on hold by Republican Senator Mark Rubio, who chairs the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. There will now be a vote on 8 March.

In those circumstances, it needs to explain why there has been a two-year delay in appointing an acceptable ambassador to India.

While processing US visas from India can take upward of a year, recent efforts to accelerate things have yet to pay off.

In contrast, obtaining a US visa from Bangkok only takes one week. How has the relationship worked so far? Indo-American relations have been largely stabilized by summit diplomacy.

The high officials of the United States were visibly warm. An official visit by Prime Minister Modi to Washington is scheduled for soon.

India has received visits from the state, defence, and treasury secretaries with cordial relations. This is what makes the difference so stark.

The ambassadors of other countries are in place. Among the American power structure’s top leaders, India maintains close ties. This is true, more or less without a doubt. As a result, Red China cannot smirk much.

edited and proofread by Nikita sharma