In his first media interview after taking cost, US ambassador Eric Garcetti spoke to TOI’s Sachin Parashar about Russia, China and the Indo-Pacific, and in addition addressed India’s issues over terrorism and visa delays
India’s relationship with the US can counterbalance the world and PM Narendra Modi’s engagement with President Joe Biden is essentially the most dynamic relationship between world leaders, US ambassador to India Eric Garcetti instructed TOI Thursday in an interview, shortly after presenting his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu and assuming cost formally because the US ambassador to India.

Garcetti, hand-picked by Biden to helm the US mission, addressed the variations over Russia’s actions in Ukraine saying ties with India will not be outlined simply by a single problem and complimented India for its “spectacular’’ G20 presidency. He additionally asserted that whereas each India and the US wish to have higher relations with China, they might not accomplish that by sacrificing their values. Together, he stated, India and the US can higher confront any risk, whether or not from China or local weather change or the pandemic.
The ambassador sought to allay India’s issues over US’ navy ties with Pakistan, saying India now does extra navy workout routines with the US than with every other nation on this planet and that the US stood resolutely with India on the difficulty of terrorism, whereas in search of a secure Pakistan. Garcetti additionally spoke concerning the delay in visa appointments saying he had spoken to Biden concerning the problem and that the main focus was now on expediting visas for college students and vacationers.
Excerpts:
How does it really feel to be in India lastly, ambassador? Talk to us a bit about your evaluation of the connection now and the place you see it headed. Also, your expectations from the upcoming Modi-Biden conferences.
It feels superb and like coming residence. I really feel like a 14-year-old arriving in India for the primary time once more which is after I first got here right here. We have seen the emergence of a brand new India. This relationship will not be depending on one particular person and if something, we’ve seen it speed up even whereas we had been ready for an envoy. But I feel my arrival makes this acceleration turbo-charged. I feel this may go down as one of the important years in US-India relations. My priorities match into 3 classes. First is to assist us each promote better peace for our folks and the world, additionally better prosperity and to attach our folks extra intently to at least one one other. We are threatened by a really insecure world – whether or not it’s conflict, local weather change or the pandemic.
So, we’ve the ability to create a extra peaceable world, and extra peaceable nations, and be an instance. This relationship has the flexibility to counterbalance the world. I feel the engagement between our 2 leaders might be essentially the most dynamic relationship between 2 leaders on this planet right now. They will meet nose to nose 4 or 5 occasions this yr. PM’s go to to the US subsequent month would be the first state go to by an Indian PM in 14 years. It’s solely the third state go to that our president has hosted. To me it’s a humiliation of riches and displays the ambitions and heat not simply between our leaders but additionally the folks. It’s like long-time buddies assembly they usually replicate the collaboration between our governments, folks, establishments, companies that basically is unparalleled on this planet right now.
The Ukraine conflict has foregrounded your variations with India on Russia like by no means earlier than within the latest previous. Without going into the specifics, how a lot is that weighing in your thoughts as you are taking cost?
Russia’s unprovoked assault on the sovereign territory of Ukraine is an ethical second for the world and also you don’t need to be taking sides to be affected by this conflict. It has disrupted the world economic system, held again progress, questioned the rule of legislation and borders and sovereignty which I do know in India are essential.
Also to us and the whole world. We will proceed to be a robust voice for the concept the rule of legislation issues, that sovereignty and borders needs to be revered and to make sure that we’ve simply peace that not solely restores Ukraine to its sovereign borders but additionally the world economic system and provide chains. But our relationship isn’t outlined by 1 factor. I feel we will be buddies and speak about that, perceive long-term relationships that India has had however we additionally welcome India’s contributions to bringing about that peaceable long-term simply decision that we wish.
What do you make of India’s G20 presidency? The lack of consensus on Ukraine appears to distract from India’s concentrate on financial cooperation and Global South’s issues.
India’s presidency has been spectacular and the US is there to assist that. It doesn’t imply we are going to agree 100% on all the things. India desires to concentrate on the challenges dealing with the creating and the developed world. India isn’t only a convening energy. It’s a producer of goodness and concepts that may enhance not simply Indian lives however everyone’s lives.
What’s your evaluation of the state of affairs within the Indo-Pacific and China’s rising assertiveness? Do you assume there’s a necessity to strengthen the dedication to the joint imaginative and prescient for a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific at a time the worldwide focus is on Ukraine?
While there’s lots of concentrate on Ukraine, the US has not solely been involved with the Pacific however the Indo-Pacific, a area I grew up in and which is part of my DNA. India and the US see eye to eye on this. The communist Chinese authorities threatens the rules-based order, doesn’t respect mental property and continues to constrain the flexibility of all of us to have open entry to seas.
There are many threats on the market and I feel each India and the US wish to have higher relations with China however with out sacrificing our values. We will arise for our values, you’ll arise to your borders and I feel we are going to stand collectively. And after I say India and the US have the flexibility to counterbalance the world, I feel this relationship is predicated at the start on our relationship collectively and never on any third nation. But the energy that our relationship can collectively higher confront any risk whether or not it’s from China, or local weather change or the pandemic. We are stronger collectively.
Since you talked about the importance of people-to-people contacts, can we count on a renewed effort to deal with the delay in visa appointments for Indians?
This is on the very high of my priorities. We have now decreased the wait time by 60 % by growing assets right here. We had 1.2 million guests from India to the US. The no 1 supply of scholars for the US is India. I’ve spoken to the president personally and he’s centered on this. He has given me the assist to proceed this momentum. We want to unravel the issue not only for this yr however for the lengthy haul.
This is a good downside to have, as a lot as it’s a problem for us, as a result of it means extra Indians wish to come to the US. Indians have contributed to our economic system. I can’t announce now however you will notice rushing up of scholar visas this summer time. In the previous yr, we’ve matched our pre-pandemic wait time for over 20 visa classes. Now our consideration is targeted on lowering the wait time for vacationer visa candidates who require an interview. The in-person vacationer visa appointment wait time is down 60% because the begin of 2023.”
Cross-border terrorism stays a significant safety and international coverage problem for India. What do you make of India’s issues in that regard about your navy ties with Pakistan and the sustenance bundle introduced final yr for Pakistan’s F-16 fleet?
We stand with India towards terrorism and that partnership in some methods was the primary huge step we took, and it solely received stronger. We have to face resolutely towards terrorism. India and the US have been each victims of terrorism and have been collectively not simply symbolically however materially. Secondly, it’s essential for us that India desires us to be engaged to ensure we’ve a secure Pakistan as a result of you’re the first to really feel that.
And so whether or not it’s the unrest proper now or whether or not it’s the long-term relationship, we wish to guarantee that stability is there for all. India now does extra navy workout routines with the US than with every other nation on this planet. Our defence procurement, joint manufacturing and other people to folks ties have by no means been stronger. I feel that speaks for itself. India ought to by no means view our relationship by the prism of every other State. We now stand facet by facet like by no means earlier than in our whole historical past.