New Delhi: The ability to manoeuvre a crisis in a foreign land is no longer the only skill that makes a good diplomat. The new age of diplomats will now have to come to terms with also being judged for their pop culture references, Instagram reels and most importantly, their bhangra moves. This might have been the key takeaway for Eric Garcetti after Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik took to ‘X’ to dub the US Ambassador to India the “US Ambassador of Cringe” and a “self-styled comedian”.
Sputnik India’s official handle Friday posted a thread criticising Garcetti for what it termed his ‘embarrassments’.
The thread went beyond his strategic moves, to mock the former Los Angeles mayor for his dance moves.
Reacting to a video of Garcetti performing bhangra along with Embassy staffers on Diwali, it termed the moves “cringe-worthy” and cited comments purportedly made by Indian users on the video shared by the US Embassy in New Delhi to suggest that Garcetti’s “attempts to ingratiate himself with Indians often backfire with the general audience”.
🤡Garcetti is a self-styled comedian
His #Bhangra dance moves are cringe-worthy, and his attempts to ingratiate himself with Indians often backfire with the general audience.
6/6 pic.twitter.com/mkk4bjWGzL
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) November 1, 2024
It also referred to Garcetti as someone who not only ‘lacks’ any diplomatic background but is someone who is “constantly embarrassing himself”.
The Sputnik India handle went on to criticise Garcetti for what it suggested were strategic missteps, from his comments on religious freedom in the context of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to remarks that “there is no such thing as strategic autonomy”.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave in March, Eric Garcetti had said during a discussion on the implementation of CAA that the US “can’t abandon its principles” and emphasised that religious freedom and equality are fundamental to democracy. His remarks came on a day the US State Department’s remarks that it was “concerned” about the notification of CAA drew a sharp reaction from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
❗ Before his diplomatic appointment, 🇺🇸Garcetti threatened 🇮🇳India over the CAA
Ahead of the 2024 polls, he stated his main goal would be to pressure India on the #CAA issue.
4/6 pic.twitter.com/6ptRsQZUVy
— Sputnik India (@Sputnik_India) November 1, 2024
The next post in the thread by Sputnik India was about remarks Garcetti made at the US-India Defense News Conclave in July where he—in what was seen as a veiled reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to Russia—had said, “I respect that India likes its strategic autonomy. But in times of conflict, there is no such thing as strategic autonomy.”
But the criticism did not stop at Garcetti’s diplomatic stint in India.
It also accused him of lying under oath to protect former aide Rick Jacobs. Allegations against Jacobs of inappropriate behaviour towards women and men had delayed Garcetti’s nomination by the US Senate.
Though Garcetti maintained in his testimony before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee in December 2021 that he “never witnessed” the alleged behaviour, nor was it “brought to his attention”, an investigative reporter with NPR in August quotes “two former communications directors for Garcetti” as telling him “on the record they believe Garcetti was aware of Jacobs’ alleged behaviour before the lawsuit and that he lied under oath”.
In addition to highlighting these controversies, Sputnik India went further to remark that the primary reason Eric Garcetti was appointed US Ambassador to India was his “long-standing connection” with US President Joe Biden.
The 42nd mayor of Los Angeles (2013-22) and a career Democrat, Garcetti has served as United States Ambassador to India since March 2023. Prior to his mayoral role, he was a member of the LA City Council and served as its president from 2006 to 2012. He was the city’s first elected Jewish mayor and second consecutive mayor with Mexican roots.
Speaking at an event organised by the Milken Institute in Mumbai in September, Garcetti emphasised the US’ desire to foster a “BFF (best friends forever) relationship” with India, stating that changes in the White House would not affect ties between the two nations.
Using a term popular on social media, he described the evolving nature of US-India ties, saying it has shifted from “complicated” to “definitely dating”. He assured that the ties would remain strong, irrespective of who wins the 3 November presidential election.
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After not having appointed an ambassador for years the US finally found this joker. So much to the India -US defining relationship.