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Senators backed Garcetti by 52-42, as seven Republicans joined
the majority of Democrats in supporting Garcetti and three
Democrats joined most Republicans in voting no.
The United States has not had an ambassador to New Delhi since
January 2021, an absence that has loomed large as Washington
looks to India to be a partner in efforts to push back against
China's expanding power and influence.
"The United States-India relationship is extremely important and
it's a very good thing we now have an ambassador," said Senate
Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, who led a congressional
delegation to India last month.
Biden is eager to deepen ties with India, the world's largest
democracy and a major U.S. trading partner, as part of his bid
to win what he has framed as a contest between free and
autocratic societies.
There are an estimated 2.7 million Indian immigrants living in
the United States.
However, New Delhi has frustrated Washington by participating in
military exercises with Russia and increasing purchases of the
country's crude oil, an important source of funding for the war
in Ukraine. India is also a major purchaser of Russian military
equipment.
Biden nominated Garcetti for the post in July 2021 but he was
held up partly due to questions about his handling of
allegations of sexual harassment against an aide when he was
mayor. Garcetti has denied wrongdoing.
Los Angeles mayor from 2013 until a term limit pushed him from
office last year, Garcetti is close to Biden and co-chaired his
2020 presidential campaign.
(Reporting by Patricia Zengerle; Editing by Mark Porter, Cynthia
Osterman and Daniel Wallis)
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