Navtej Singh Sarna, India's High Commissioner to Britain has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United State of America, as that country prepares for a presidential transition, the External Affairs Ministry announced. He will succeed the current envoy Arun Singh.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement, that, “Navtej Singh Sarna has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the United States of America. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.”

He takes charge after Arun Kumar Singh retired last month-end. Both Sarna and Singh are former Indian ambassadors to Israel, underlying the importance of a posting in Tel Aviv which is one of Washington's closest allies.

Sarna was moved to London as the High Commissioner barely eight months back. Sarna has had a previous posting in Washington when he was Minister for Press, Information and Culture between 1998 and 2002.

Sarna’s appointment to the US comes at a time when the country is heading towards a Presidential election that is marked with fierce political campaigning.

He will also play an instrumental role in taking forward the bilateral ties between India and the US, both in strategic and economic terms. India and US defence ties are at an all-time high, while two-way trade reached $110 billion last year. Both sides are now aiming at $500 billion in goods and services trade.

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Nandini