Who is Vinay Mohan Kwatra? India’s Next Ambassador to USA

New Delhi: Vinay Mohan Kwatra has been appointed as the next ambassador of India to the United States of America, according to a Statement from Ministry of External Affairs on Friday. MEA said in a statement that Kwatra will soon take charge of the office after formal discussions with the US.

Who is Vinay Mohan Kwatra?

Kwatra, a 1988 batch IFS officer, concluded his tenure as Foreign Secretary on July 14th after serving for two long years. In a series of high-profile appointments, Kwatra has previously served as envoy to France from 2017 to 2020 and Nepal from 2020 to 2022. He also served as Joint Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office from October 2015 to August 2017.

Kwatra brings three decades of experience in international affairs, with previous appointments in Paris, Kathmandu, and Washington DC, which will be instrumental in deepening US-India relations and supporting India's independent foreign policy.

In a July 14 post on X, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Kwatra for his dedicated service, and numerous contributions to India’s foreign policy.

Kwatra’s appointment will play a crucial role in shaping the India-US relations as the country is going for polls in November and might see an administrative shift.  

Kwatra succeeded Taranjit Singh Sandhu in Washington, who served as the Ambassador to the US until January 31, 2024. Later, Taranjit retired in January and contested the Lok Sabha polls from Amritsar, while the post has remained vacant since then.

Since assuming office in 2014, the Modi government has deepened relations with the United States. Additionally, the US and India, once distanced during the Cold War, are now close allies working together to counter a more aggressive China.

Kwatra has previously been in the USA and China as well with different Assignments under the Modi government. His experience and expertise could help both the rising power and the grand old power to work for mutual benefits and secure interests in the Indo-Pacific.