NEW DELHI — Just days after the conclusion of a visit from President Obama that was widely seen as a success, India has abruptly removed its highest-ranking diplomat and replaced her with its ambassador to the United States, who served as a crucial interlocutor between New Delhi and Washington before the summit meeting.
The appointment of the ambassador, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, as foreign secretary, which took effect on Thursday, comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi steers India toward a closer partnership with the United States. Mr. Jaishankar, who has also served as ambassador to China and as high commissioner to Singapore, was a crucial negotiator on the groundbreaking 2008 civilian nuclear agreement between India and the United States.
He replaces Sujatha Singh, who was appointed by the previous government led by the Indian National Congress party, the main rival to Mr. Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. Ms. Singh articulated India’s angry reaction to the 2013 arrest of India’s deputy consul general in New York, Devyani Khobragade, on visa fraud charges, an episode that brought relations between the two countries to their lowest point in years.
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In a brief appearance before Indian journalists, Mr. Jaishankar said he was “very honored” by the appointment, but he declined to elaborate on his geopolitical agenda.
“My priorities are the government’s priorities,” he said. “I think at this time let’s leave it at that.”
