Top Biden officials heap praises on Jaishankar: 'Architect of modern India-US ties'

A top official of the Joe Biden administration has heaped praises on External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, calling him the “architect” of modern ties between India and the US.

The remarks were made by US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Verma during a special reception hosted by India's Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, to honour the minister.

"It's one of the most consequential relationships of this century. Do we have disagreements? You bet. Will we have bumps in the road? Of course. But two close friends aligned with these shared values, bonded together by the great ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, and Martin Luther King...this is a partnership with staying power, with real impact, and that will continue to have an outside influence in the world," Verma said.

"I have also known (Jaishankar) for a long time over many capacities, and who I can also say,  he is the architect of modern US-India relations. We would not be in the strong place that we are today, but for the external affairs minister, your leadership," he added.

Biden's domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden also praised Jaishankar, saying, "Our community has honestly matured and recognized that we can participate and contribute in so many ways. And I think it is the strength of that relationship and the strength of the democratic participation that we are part of, that really builds on the US-India relationship. And it is an honour to be here with the foreign minister, Jaishankar, who's a great leader across so many issues and has recognized for years the important strength of the community."

Notable Indian-origin officials from the Biden administration, including US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Dr Rahul Gupta, and Director of the National Science Foundation Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan also attended the event.