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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline JULY 26, 2024 | The Indian Eye 18

Indian government names former foreign secretary

Vinay Kwatra as the next Ambassador to US

The nomination will be followed by procedural formalities in the US following which

Kwatra will be taking over in Washington DC. Since January this year, the post of India’s

Ambassador to the US had been lying vacant when Taranjit Singh Sandhu retired

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Washington, DC
ormer Indian Foreign Secretary
Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been
Fnominated as the next Indian
Ambassador to the US. India has offi-
cially communicated this nomination
to the US. Kwatra, a career diplomat,
previously served in China, the US, in
Modi’s office, and as India’s envoy to
France before his tenure as the top
bureaucrat in the foreign ministry.
His immediate priority will be to
engage with officials who could play
a crucial role in India-related policy
during the next US administration.
India-US ties have strengthened over
the past two decades, and Kwatra’s
appointment aims to bring certainty
to this important relationship as coun-
tries prepare for a potential change in
administration after the upcoming US
elections.
The timing of the new US Am-
bassador’s appointment by India is
critical as for some time now India-US
relations have been going through a
churn as the US has expressed its dis-
pleasure over India’s ties with Russia.
Moreover, the US is pressing India to
act against those who tried to allegedly
kill Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh
Pannun. An Indian Origin man, Nikh-
il Gupta, was arrested in the Czech
Republic and was deported to the US
at the behest of US authorities. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar receives a warm welcome from Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra
The nomination will be followed
by procedural formalities in the US Minister S Jaishankar bid farewell to well in his future endeavours,” EAM tary began on July 15 as the extension
following which Kwatra will be taking outgoing Foreign Secretary Kwatra, Jaishankar said in a post on X. Jais- granted to Kwatra ended on July 14.
over in Washington DC. Since January acknowledging his profound contri- hankar wished the outgoing Foreign Kwatra had been given a six-month
this year, the post of India’s Ambassa- butions to India’s foreign policy and Secretary the best for his future en- extension in March this year.
dor to the US had been lying vacant national security over the past de- deavours. Misri, 59, has the unique honour
when Taranjit Singh Sandhu retired. cade. Jaishankar praised Kwatra for Now, Vikram Misri, who was of having served as private secretary
External Affairs Minister S Jais- his strategic acumen in shaping and serving as the Deputy National Se- to three Prime Ministers - Inder Ku-
hankar thanked outgoing Foreign executing crucial policies during his curity Adviser, has been appointed mar Gujral in 1997, Manmohan Singh
Secretary Vinay Kwatra for his ded- tenure. as India’s new Foreign Secretary. The in 2012, and Narendra Modi in 2014.
ication and contributions in the field “Thank outgoing Foreign Secre- Appointments Committee of Cabinet Born in Srinagar, Misri was In-
of foreign policy and national security, tary Vinay Kwatra for his dedication (ACC) approved the proposal made dia’s ambassador to China and played
as his tenure ended on last Saturday. and many contributions in the field by the Ministry of External Affairs for a significant part in discussions be-
EAM Jaishankar thanked Vinay Kwa- of foreign policy and national securi- appointing Vikram Misri as the next tween India and China following the
tra for helping strategize and execute ty. Particularly in the last decade, he Foreign Secretary, succeeding Vinay 2020 Galwan Valley clashes that re-
many key policies in the last decade. has helped strategise and execute so Mohan Kwatra as Foreign Secretary. sulted from the actions of the Chinese
On July 14, External Affairs many of our key policies. Wish him Misri’s tenure as Foreign Secre- military in Eastern Ladakh.

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