Describing the relationship between India and the United States as one of the most significant partnerships, prominent officials from the Biden administration commended External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar for his dedication to nurturing this alliance, dubbing him the "architect" of modern US-India relations. These accolades were offered during a special reception hosted by India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, in honor of EAM S Jaishankar.
The event attracted notable figures from the Biden administration, including US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma, President Biden's domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Dr. Rahul Gupta, and Director of the National Science Foundation Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan.
Mr. Jaishankar visited the US from September 22 to September 30, during which he addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. In Washington, Mr. Jaishankar held meetings with several top US officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Ambassador Katherine Tai, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Distinguished diplomat Richard Verma underscored the pivotal role played by hardworking Indian Americans in forging and strengthening US-India relations, stating: "It's one of the most consequential relationships of this century. Do we have disagreements? You bet. Will we have bumps in the road? Of course. But two close friends aligned with these shared values, bonded together by the great ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King...this is a partnership with staying power, with real impact, and that will continue to have an outside influence in the world."
The former ambassador also lauded Mr. Jaishankar as the mastermind behind the modern US-India relationship, expressing confidence that strategic ties between the two nations have improved during his tenure. At the "Colors of Friendship" event held in Washington, D.C., Mr. Jaishankar addressed members of the Indian community, highlighting the significance of people-to-people connections in strengthening bilateral relations.
Hundreds of community members from across the United States participated in this event. Mr. Jaishankar credited Indian Americans for their role in fostering these connections, emphasizing that the Indian community serves as a bridge between the two nations. Neera Tanden, a prominent Indian American in the White House and a top advisor to President Biden, stressed the importance of a robust person-to-person and community-to-community relationship between India and the US, noting the presence of Indian Americans in prominent positions throughout the administration.
