Trump’s Top Aide Kenneth Juster to be Next US Ambassador to India

White House deputy spokesperson Walters said, “Kenneth is extremely qualified for the position.”

(Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

The White House said on Wednesday, that Kenneth I Juster, a top economic aide to US President Donald Trump, is set to be America's new ambassador to New Delhi.

Juster, 62, who is the deputy assistant to the US President for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of his National Economic Council, would replace Richard Verma if nominated and confirmed by the Senate.

"Kenneth Juster's move to Indian Ambassador is because he is extremely qualified for the position," White House deputy spokesperson Lindsay E Walters confirmed to PTI.

Kenneth has a strong and positive relationship with everyone in the White House, including the president.

Lindsay E Walters, White House deputy spokesperson

The move comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first meeting with Trump at the White House on 26 June.

The move has been welcomed by widely respected Ashley Telis, the top expert on India in the US.

Kenneth knows India well and was deeply involved in successful bilateral negotiations between the two countries. The Indians will welcome him enthusiastically.

Ashley Telis, top expert on India in the US told The Washington Post.

Verma, the first Indian-American to head this position, put in his papers when Trump replaced Barack Obama as the President.

Kenneth, Experienced on India

Kenneth, a lawyer from Harvard, has experience working on India policy issues and on ties between the two countries.

As a senior commerce department official, during the George W Bush administration, he served as the US chair of the US-India High Technology Cooperation Group. He was also one of the key architects of the ‘Next Steps in Strategic Partnership’ initiative between the US and India.

That work helped form the foundation for the landmark civil nuclear agreement between the two countries in 2008.

He holds a law degree from the Harvard Law School, a master’s degree in Public Policy from the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and a bachelor’s degree in Government from Harvard College.

(With inputs from PTI.)