Eric Garcetti, a close aide of President Joe Biden, was confirmed as the US ambassador to India after the Senate voted on his nomination on Wednesday, filling a key diplomatic post after a gap of two years.
The Senate voted 52-42 to advance the former Los Angeles mayor’s nomination, ending Garcetti’s months-long stall.
The former mayor’s nomination has been pending before the US Congress since July 2021, when she was nominated by Biden for the coveted diplomatic posting. The post is vacant for more than two years.
Mr. Garcetti’s nomination was not brought to the Senate floor for a vote during the last Congress because the ruling Democratic Party did not have enough support to pass it.
The 52-year-old was not confirmed by the Senate in President Biden’s first two years amid concerns from some lawmakers that the then-mayor did not adequately handle allegations against the former senior adviser of sexual assault and harassment.
President Biden re-nominated Garcetti to the same position in January this year.
The last US ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, will step down in January 2021 following a change of government in the US.