Kathleen Stephens takes charge as US interim Ambassador

Kathleen Stephens, the new US interim Ambassador, today took charge of the American Embassy here and said she was looking forward to working with India for strengthening and broadening the Indo-US partnership.

"I particularly look forward to working with our Indian partners to increase our shared prosperity by growing our trade and investment, enhancing regional security and economic integration," she said here.

Stephens, who arrived in the national capital last night, took charge after former US Ambassador Nancy Powell left India on May 22 having announced the end of her tenure in March this year.

Stephens also spoke about working with India for "successful transitions in Afghanistan, expanding counter-terrorism and law enforcement cooperation, and further developing our outstanding people-to-people ties".

She will head the US mission until a new permanent ambassador is nominated and confirmed by the US Senate.

A career foreign service officer, Stephens was US ambassador to South Korea from 2008 to 2011 and previously served in senior positions in Washington, Asia and Europe.