May 1, 2021
2 mins read

Top diplomat Daniel Smith to head US embassy in New Delhi

Daniel Smith will hold the post of charge d’affaires ad interim — or temporarily — till an Ambassador is appointed, reports Arul Louis

A former acting secretary of state, Daniel Smith, has been appointed as the head of US embassy in New Delhi, which has been without an Ambassador after Kenneth Juster left the post in January, according to State Department Spokesperson Ned Price.

Smith will hold the post of charge d’affaires ad interim — or temporarily — till an Ambassador is appointed, Price announced on Friday.

The appointment of Smith, who is among the senior-most career diplomats, is a measure of the importance the administration of President Joe Biden attaches to India.

Also Read | We are determined to help India, says Biden

“Smith’s appointment underscores the United States’ strong commitment to our partnership with the Government of India and the Indian people. He will spearhead close cooperation with India to ensure that our countries continue to advance our shared priorities, including overcoming the global pandemic,” the announcement said.

Daniel Smith
Former US ambassador to India Kenneth Juster during his visit to the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata (IANS)

When Mike Pompeo, who was the secretary of state, and other political appointees in the top echelons of the State Department left when former President Donald Trump ended his term in January, Smith briefly took over as the acting secretary of state till Anthony Blinken was confirmed by the Senate.

Smith will take over from another career diplomat, Danie Heflin, who was appointed charge d’affaires after political appointee Juster quit when Trump left office.

Smith, who holds a PhD from Stanford University, was the director of the Foreign Service Institute that trains diplomats. Before that he had been the assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research and the ambassador to Greece.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

The New Delhi ambassadorship is considered a high profile post and 15 of the 23 ambassadors have been political appointees.

They have included distinguished personalities like former governors Richard Frank Celeste and Chester Bowles (who served twice), former members of Congress including Kenneth Keating, Sherman Cooper and William Saxbe, and public intellectuals like John Kenneth Galbraith and Daniel Patrick Moynihan, who had also been a senator.

Also Read | US to deploy forces in Afghanistan to cover troop pullout

Previous Story

More Leaders Join #OxygenFriendship

Next Story

Philippines refuses to withdraw navy from South China Sea

Latest from -Top News

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with

India-EU Trade Deal Breakthrough Soon?

Negotiators report increased momentum in discussions, which have been given a boost from US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive…reports Asian Lite News India and the European Union aim to finalise a trade

Europe Seeks Peace in Gaza

European countries condemn Israeli interception of Gaza-bound flotilla, demand safety of citizens…reports Asian Lite News Israel’s interception of an international flotilla carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza has sparked condemnation across Europe, with

GAZA: Egypt to Host Peace Talks

Egypt hopes the discussions will help “end the war and the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, which has continued for two consecutive years…reports Asian Lite News Egypt will host Israeli and

‘My Injuries Made Me’

During his four-year battle with injury, the incumbent fast bowling spearhead made occasional appearances but couldn’t bear the workload and demands of red-ball cricket….reports Asian Lite News England tearaway Jofra Archer believes
Go toTop