Ken Juster, Senior White House official and deputy assistant to Donald Trump is likely to become the next US ambassador to India after a month long search for the position, according to the reports. The announcement has been made just before Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi‘s visit to Washington.
“Ken Juster’s move to Indian Ambassador is because he is extremely qualified for the position,” White House spokesperson said.
“Ken has a strong and positive relationship with everyone in the White House, including the president,” spokesperson added.
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According to sources in New Delhi, host country’s assent is necessary for the nomination of the envoy and it has not been reached yet.
Juster is currently serving as a deputy assistant to President Donald Trump for International Economic Affairs and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council in the White House. Juster had been a similar face in the meeting of White House held with Senior Indian officials in Washington DC.
Juster, a lawyer from Harvard, was a Deputy Secretary of Commerce in President George W Bush’s administration
Other possible names in the race of American delegate to India includes the name of several Indian-American citizens. Shalli Kumar, an Indian-American businessman from Chicago was also a strong contender for the position as he was one of the major donors to the Trump campaign and led Trump’s voice to Indian-American community during the campaign.
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Another Indian-American’s name emerged for the position of Ambassador, Ashley Tellis who is known for the landmark India-US civil nuclear cooperation deal during the Bush regime.