Kenneth Juster has been a strong advocate of India-U.S. partnership

Kenneth Juster, deputy director of National Economic Council, will be appointed as the U.S. Ambassador to India, the White House confirmed on Wednesday. An announcement of his appointment is in process, but it may not come before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first meeting with President Donald Trump on June 26.

Strong advocate

Mr. Juster has been a strong advocate of India-U.S. partnership, and was the co-chair of the U.S.-India High Technology Cooperation Group set up during the George W. Bush presidency. The news was reported first by The Washington Post on Wednesday, though his name has appeared in the list of probable candidates for the post earlier too.

“His move to India was because he was extremely qualified for the position,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Lindsay Walters told the The Hindu.

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

Ms. Walter’s explanation sought to counter media speculation that Mr. Juster’s movement was related to the turf war between the globalists and the nationalists in the White House.

Mr. Juster is pro-trade and globalist and his views have come into conflict with other officials involved in U.S. trade policy, including Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross.

A Harvard-trained lawyer, Mr. Juster served in the State Department during George H.W. Bush presidency and was deputy secretary Commerce Department official during the George W. Bush administration.

Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross also confirmed the move in a statement to the Post. “Ken Juster has a strong résumé and, while I only met him half a dozen or so times, I know of no reason why he could not serve our country well as ambassador to such an important country as India,” Mr. Ross.