Former US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Maldives Atul Keshap is set to serve as Chargé d’Affaires, ad interim, in New Delhi, with the Joe Biden administration saying his appointment will reinforce the close collaboration and partnership with India.  President Biden is yet to appoint a new full-fledged ambassador to India.

Keshap has been appointed following the retirement of interim US envoy Daniel Smith, who had taken over in May, the US Embassy in New Delhi said in a statement.

Keshap, a career member of the US senior foreign service, had earlier served at the embassy in New Delhi besides being Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia.
 
He had a stint as US Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives in 2015 when fellow Indian-American Richard Rahul Verma was US Ambassador to India. Both men trace their roots to Punjab.   

"Ambassador Keshap will bring a wealth of experience to the role, having served previously at U.S. Embassy New Delhi and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia.  

“He most recently served as the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs and as the U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives,” said the statement.

It said Ambassador Keshap’s appointment will “reinforce the close U.S. partnership with the government and people of India, demonstrated by our collaboration to overcome global challenges like the Covid-19 pandemic”.

The last full-time ambassador to India, Kenneth Juster, left his post in January after the defeat of President Trump. 

Keshap’s appointment highlights the fact that the White House is yet to send to the US Senate the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, whose name has been doing the rounds as the next ambassador in New Delhi since the end of May, The Hindu said. (SAM)

(SAM)