Senior Biden officials praised External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar as a key figure in shaping modern India-US relations, describing the partnership between the two nations as one of the most defining alliances.
This recognition followed Jaishankar's statement that India and the US regard each other as highly desirable, optimal, and comfortable partners.
During a special reception hosted by India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, Neera Tandon, a top advisor to US President Joe Biden, lauded Jaishankar as one of India's most formidable ambassadors. Tandon, a prominent Indian American in the White House, emphasized Jaishankar's genuine and strong advocacy for the US-India relationship and partnership.
Tandon also highlighted the increasing presence of Indian Americans in various influential positions within the US administration, noting the community's contributions to democratic participation and the strength of the US-India relationship.
Veteran Indian American diplomat Richard Verma added his accolades, stating that ties between India and the US had flourished under Jaishankar's leadership. He credited Jaishankar as the architect behind the modern US-India relationship, emphasizing that the External Affairs Minister's leadership had played a pivotal role in strengthening the partnership.
Verma further emphasized that the shared values of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King had brought India and the US together and would continue to wield a significant impact on the global stage.
During his US visit, Jaishankar addressed the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York and held meetings with top US officials, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
At a community event in Washington DC, Jaishankar expressed the belief that there are no limits to the India-US relationship, drawing parallels to India's Chandrayaan-3 lunar mission. He emphasized that the ties between the two countries would reach new heights, with the Modi government playing a pivotal role in this progress, highlighting that the relationship is currently at an all-time high.