Washington: Former Mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti, was officially sworn in as the US Ambassador to India on Friday (local time) by Vice President Kamala Harris during a ceremonial event in Washington.
Earlier this month, the US Senate confirmed Garcetti’s nomination, ending a protracted hiatus of over two years to fill the key diplomatic position.
#WATCH | @ericgarcetti sworn in as new US Ambassador to India @KamalaHarris @USAndIndia pic.twitter.com/m49eytOhWP
— NewsMobile (@NewsMobileIndia) March 25, 2023
“I can’t wait to serve,” Garcetti said, when asked about his new diplomatic assignment.
The ceremony was attended by his close family members, including wife Amy Wakeland, father Gil Garcetti, mother Sukey Garcetti and mother-in-law Dee Wakeland.
Garcetti during the oath-taking ceremony, said: “I Eric M. Garcetti, do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter.”
Later, Garcetti also met his Indian counterpart Taranjit Singh Sandhu and discussed immediate priorities in deepening India, US bilateral partnership.
Earlier, the Senate voted 52-42 giving the advantage to the former Los Angeles mayor’s nomination that caps off months of limbo for Garcetti.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee also voted in favour of the former Los Angeles Mayor to become the ambassador of India. The panel approved the nomination by a vote of 13-8, with Republican Senators Todd Young and Bill Hagerty joining all of the committee’s Democrats in voting in favour of Garcetti.
The United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum and US-India Business Council congratulated Garcetti on his confirmation as the next envoy to India.
In the statement, USISPF President and CEO Mukesh Aghi said Garcetti, who had led Los Angeles, one of the most vibrant cities in the world, would understand that working with all stakeholders will be essential in moving forward the most significant relationship of the 21st century, the US-India partnership.