After being sworn in at the White House in November 2025, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, was formally welcomed at the US Embassy in New Delhi, India, on January 12.
Officially assuming charge as the US Ambassador to India, addressed hundreds of US Embassy staffers in the South Asian nations, alongside Indian media. In an unconventional development, the US ambassador designate ended up assuming office in New Delhi even before he had presented his credential to Indian President Droupadi Murmu.
While at the public event, Gor weighed in on a number of topics, ranging from the much-awaited finalisation of the US-India trade dealand the nature of ties shared between the leaders of both nations, US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Sergio Gor on Trump-Modi friendship
Inevitable speculations have fuelled chatter surrounding the relationship between Trump and Modi in light of the former heaping hefty tariffson the latter due to New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases amid the ongoing Ukraine crisis. As India continues to tackle the heavy 50% duties, amid a continued streak of renewed threats on the issue, one can’t help but wonder how that has affected Trump and Modi relations behind the scenes.
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The US Ambassador to India, however, attempted to put all that noise to rest, by affirming, “No partner is more essential (to the US) than India.” Offering slight insight into his own globe-trotting adventures with the US president, Gor said, “have travelled all over the world with President Trump, and I can attest that his friendship with Prime Minister Modi is real.” He further affirmed that both countries are not just bound by their shared interests but by a “relationship anchored at the highest levels.”
Hoping to dispel claims of strained ties between Modi and Trump, Sergio Gor also added, “Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end,” as per ANI.
Trump’s India visit soon?
Noting that his arrival in India was focussed on taking the partnership between the two nations to the next level, the US Ambassador alluded to a conversation he recently had with Trump. As per Gor’s claims, the POTUS recounted his last visit to India over dinner, while also hailing his “great friendship with the great Prime Minister of India.”
Holding high hopes for Trump’s potential visit to New Delhi in the future, Gor added, “I hope the President will be visiting us soon, hopefully in the next year or two.”
India invited to join PaxSilica
Bringing up innovative ideas during his novel visit to India after being sworn in as the ambassador, Gor opened up about the US’ new initiative called PaxSilica. Formally addressing India, he said, “Today, I am pleased to announce that India will be invited to join this group of nations as a full member next month.”
Countries like Japan, South Korea, the UK and Israel had also joined the banner last month.
According to the official US State Department website, “ ax Silica is the Department of State’s flagship effort on AI and supply chain security, advancing new economic security consensus among allies and trusted partners.”
India Gate vs White House parallels
Expressing immense happiness upon arriving in India, Gor said that he had just spoken to Trump a day earlier. As per his account, the US president extended warm wishes to his “dear friend, the incredible Prime Minister Modi.”
While heaping great praises onto the Indian PM, the US Ambassador also ended up speaking highly of the beautiful Delhi monument, the Indian Gate. Gor claimed that he couldn’t stop himself from mentioning the landmark to President Trump during their conversation, especially as the POTUS himself is currently involved in “redecorating and renovating Washington, DC.”
“The President has embarked on building a ballroom at the White House, but one of the additional projects that’s on his list is building something similar to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and no offence to the French,” Gor added, “but I think what we have here in Delhi might even surpass that.”
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Where is the US-India trade deal headed?
Addressing worries tied to the ongoing trade negotiations, Gor told the Embassy staffers in New Delhi that both the US and Indian sides were “actively” working towards hashing out a trade deal.
“India is the world’s largest nation. So it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there and while trade is very important for our relationship,” he said on Monday, “we will continue to work closely together on other very important areas such as security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education, and health.”
Just days ago, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said that the trade deal between the US and India had been pushed back because PM Modi failed to call President Trump. The Indian Government has since vehemently denied the claims. Meanwhile, Gor offered some relief on Monday, revealing that the next round of discussions was scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.
Similarly, India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry Piyush Goyal also affirmed that the talks related to the bilateral deal were in the final stage. His remarks were delivered during the keynote address at the Regional MSME Conclave in Rajkot, Gujarat on the same day. |
