LOS ANGELES—The Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmed Jan. 12 the nomination of Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti to be U.S. ambassador to India, but the nomination next needs to be confirmed by a majority of the U.S. Senate.

The mayor was nominated to be an ambassador by President Joe Biden, who announced the nomination on July 9. It was not immediately clear when the U.S. Senate would take up the nomination.

“Few nations are more vital to the future of American security and prosperity than India,” Garcetti told the committee during his opening statements.

Garcetti is in his final year as mayor, because he is unable to run again due to term limits. He is scheduled to leave office in December unless he leaves earlier for the ambassador post.

If Garcetti is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Council President Nury Martinez would become acting mayor until an interim mayor is appointed by the council or one is chosen by special election.

The council is unlikely to schedule a special election since the mayoral primary is already set for June.