Vinay Mohan Kwatra, the former Foreign Secretary, officially took on the role of Ambassador of India to the United States on Tuesday. Kwatra succeeds Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the former envoy and BJP leader.
In a statement on X, Kwatra expressed his honor at assuming the position, stating, “Privileged to assume charge as the Ambassador of India to the United States of America. The team at the Indian Embassy in the U.S. will remain dedicated to working diligently to further enhance this vital partnership.”
Sripriya Ranganathan, the Deputy Ambassador at the Indian Embassy in Washington DC, warmly welcomed Kwatra, saying, “Delighted to welcome Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra as the new Ambassador of India to the United States of America. All of us @IndiainUSA are excited to work under his leadership!”
The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum extended their congratulations to Kwatra, expressing their warm welcome as he starts his role as the Indian Ambassador to the U.S. They conveyed their best wishes for a successful and productive tenure and expressed their anticipation of collaborating with him and the Indian Embassy to strengthen the US-India partnership.
On July 14, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar bid farewell to Kwatra, recognizing his impactful role in shaping India’s foreign policy and national security over the last decade. Jaishankar lauded Kwatra for his strategic expertise in developing and implementing crucial policies.
Kwatra’s extensive career includes previous roles at the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister’s Office as Joint Secretary. He also served as Minister (Commerce) at the Indian Embassy in Washington D.C. from May 2010 to July 2013. Between July 2013 and October 2015, Kwatra led the Policy Planning & Research Division at the Ministry of External Affairs, followed by his role as head of the Americas Division, where he managed India’s relations with the United States and Canada.
With nearly 32 years of experience in various international and domestic roles, Kwatra assumes his new position at a time when US-India relations are at a notable high.
