New US Envoy Embarks on India Visit, Meets with Modi and Jaishankar on Day 1
New Delhi - U.S. Ambassador-designate to India, Sergio Gor, commenced a six-day visit to India on Saturday, marked by high-level meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Gor's visit, accompanied by Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas, is viewed as a significant step towards recalibrating the India-U.S. relationship amidst existing trade and tariff disputes.
Upon meeting Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, Gor conveyed that President Donald Trump considers Modi "a great and personal friend". The discussions between Gor and Modi encompassed a wide array of bilateral issues, including defense, trade, technology, and the importance of critical minerals. Gor presented Modi with a framed photograph of the Prime Minister and President Trump at the White House, featuring a handwritten message from President Trump that read, "Mr. Prime Minister, you are great".
Prime Minister Modi reciprocated the positive sentiment, expressing confidence that Gor's tenure would further strengthen the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. "Glad to receive Mr. Sergio Gor, Ambassador-designate of the US to India. I'm confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," Modi stated in a post on X.
Earlier in the day, Gor engaged in discussions with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, focusing on the India-U.S. relationship and its global significance. Jaishankar also conveyed his best wishes to Gor for his new role. The U.S. Embassy in Delhi has described Gor's visit as his "First official visit" and indicated that he is expected to formally take over as ambassador in January.
Gor's visit occurs during a period of strained bilateral ties, largely due to trade tensions and tariff policies implemented by the Trump administration, including tariffs on Indian goods and duties on India's purchase of Russian crude oil. Despite these challenges, recent communications between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump have raised hopes for a positive resolution to the ongoing trade negotiations.
Gor, a close aide to President Trump and a key figure in the "MAGA" campaign, also holds the title of Trump's special envoy for South and Central Asia. His appointment is seen as a strategic move to reinforce the ties between the two nations. During his confirmation hearing, Gor emphasized the importance of the U.S.-India relationship, calling India "one of the most important relationships America has in the world and a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond".
While in Delhi, Gor is scheduled to meet with other stakeholders. The U.S. State Department noted that Gor and Rigas would meet with Indian government counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues, with the goal of strengthening the strategic partnership and promoting a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
