'Respect for human rights' key to US-India Ties: US envoy nominee

Eric Garcetti, Biden's nominee for next envoy to New Delhi, said he will double-down on US' efforts to strengthen India's capacity to "secure its borders".

Garcetti is currently serving as the Mayor of Los Angeles and is a personal confidant of Biden.

During his confirmation hearing for US Ambassador to India, Garcetti said, "Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, bilateral trade is expected to reach new heights, I intend to champion an ambitious economic partnership with India that reduces market access barriers and bolsters fair trade and creates good jobs for the American middle class.”

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Garcetti said he will make the efforts “through information sharing, counterterrorism coordination, joint freedom of navigation patrols and military exercises and sales of our best defence technologies in order to realise the full potential of our major defence partnership.”

He further said if confirmed, he will work closely with India to support a similarly bold approach to promoting green energy through the International Solar Alliance (ISA) and through the Agenda 2030 Climate and Clean Energy Partnership.