America's missing ambassador to India is straining bilateral ties

It is time for the Biden administration to get its act together and put Garcetti on a plane to New Delhi without further delay

- SHASHI THAROOR

The recent decision by President Joe Biden's administration to renominate former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti to be US ambassador to India has highlighted the peculiar state of the bilateral relationship.

Since President Biden took office two years ago, the United States has not had an ambassador in New Delhi and this at a time when the US is assiduously courting India as a potential counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific. Together with fellow Quad members Australia, Japan and the US, India is essential to maintaining the balance of power in the region. And as a member of the fledgling 12U2 partnership, which also includes Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the US, India has a crucial role to play in containing Chinese influence in the Middle East.

Given India's strategic importance, why has the White House left the ambassador position vacant for two years?

The answer has nothing to do with India. Garcetti was nominated in July 2021, a few months into the new administration. But his Senate confirmation ran into trouble over allegations that as mayor he ignored sexual harassment complaints against one of his aides.

Garcetti's alleged awareness of his aide's misconduct and his failure to act led some Democrats to join Republicans in refusing to call a vote on his appointment. In April, nine months after his nomination was announced, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer admitted that he might not have the votes to confirm Garcetti, leaving the ambassador position in limbo.