Vinay Mohan Kwatra has assumed the role of Indian Ambassador to the United States.

New Delhi [India], August 13: Former Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra officially assumed the role of Ambassador of India to the United States on Tuesday. He succeeds Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India's previous envoy to the U.S. and a prominent BJP leader.

Upon taking up his new position, Kwatra shared his excitement on X (formerly Twitter), saying, "Privileged to assume charge as the Ambassador of India to the United States of America. Team @IndianEmbassyUS will continue to work intensely to strengthen this crucial partnership."

Sripriya Ranganathan, Deputy Ambassador at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C., expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "Delighted to welcome Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra as the new Ambassador of India to the United States of America. All of us @IndiainUSA are excited to work under his leadership!"

The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum also extended a warm welcome, saying, "USISPF warmly welcomes @AmbVMKwatra as he begins his tenure as the Indian Ambassador to the U.S. We wish him a successful and productive tenure and look forward to working closely with him and @IndianEmbassyUS to elevate the US-India partnership."

Kwatra's appointment comes at a time when U.S.-India relations are notably strong. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized that President Joe Biden views the relationship between the two nations as one of the most consequential in the world. She highlighted the close cooperation between the U.S. and India on critical priorities, including through the QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) and the U.S.-India initiative on emerging technology.

Before his appointment as Ambassador to the U.S., Kwatra held various significant roles, including serving at the Ministry of External Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office as Joint Secretary. He also served as Minister (Commerce) at the Embassy of India in Washington, D.C., from May 2010 to July 2013. He later led the Policy Planning & Research Division of the Ministry of External Affairs and headed the Americas Division, where he managed India's relations with the U.S. and Canada.

With nearly 32 years of experience in a wide range of assignments, Kwatra brings extensive expertise to his new role as he leads efforts to further strengthen the already robust ties between India and the United States.