Highlighting the personal bond between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gor said the relationship between India and the USA is anchored at the highest political level.
BY PC Bureau
January 12, 2026: Sergio Gor on Monday officially took charge as the United States Ambassador to India, signalling a renewed push to recalibrate and strengthen the India–US partnership at a time of heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Striking a confident and forward-looking tone, Gor underscored the strategic importance Washington places on New Delhi and suggested that President Donald Trump could visit India again in the near future, a move that would add fresh momentum to bilateral ties.
Speaking after assuming office, Gor placed strong emphasis on the personal rapport between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing it as a stabilising force in an otherwise complex relationship. Drawing on his experience of travelling extensively with Trump, the new ambassador said the bond between the two leaders was authentic and rooted in mutual respect.
“The friendship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi is real,” Gor said, noting that close partners may not always see eye to eye but are able to resolve differences through dialogue. According to him, the India–US relationship is firmly anchored at the highest political level, allowing both sides to navigate disagreements without derailing long-term strategic goals.
Calling India a “vital strategic partner,” Gor said he arrived in New Delhi with “profound respect” and a clear mandate from Washington to deepen engagement across sectors. He described the partnership as one connecting the world’s oldest democracy with the world’s largest democracy, and said his mission would be to elevate cooperation “to the next level” in areas ranging from defence and trade to technology and people-to-people ties.
The ambassador also hinted at the possibility of President Trump returning to India, recalling that the US President had spoken warmly about his previous visit and his interactions with Prime Minister Modi. “I hope the President will be visiting us soon, perhaps in the next year or two,” Gor said, adding light-heartedly that Trump’s late-night phone calls could align well with the India–US time difference.
I am announcing that India will be part of US-led initiative Pax Silica: Sergio Gor
Real friends can address their differences: US envoy designate Gor on Modi-Trump friendship in context of bilateral ties pic.twitter.com/xNn5zw2j5J
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 12, 2026
Emphasising India’s central role in US global strategy, Gor said that no partnership mattered more to Washington. He outlined an ambitious agenda focused on working as “true strategic partners,” with both countries contributing leadership, capabilities and mutual trust.
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On the economic front, Gor stressed that both sides remain actively engaged in efforts to conclude a long-pending trade agreement, underlining Washington’s desire to bring greater certainty and balance to commercial ties. He also highlighted Pax Silica, a US-led strategic initiative covering critical minerals, advanced manufacturing and supply-chain resilience, announcing that India would be invited to join the grouping.
Gor’s appointment comes at a sensitive moment in bilateral relations. Several key areas of cooperation — including defence collaboration, advanced technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and critical minerals — have seen a slowdown and require renewed momentum. Trade tensions also persist, particularly after President Trump last week approved legislation proposing steep tariffs on countries purchasing Russian crude oil.
India is already contending with existing US duties, including a 50 per cent tariff imposed in August 2025, part of which is linked to India’s energy imports from Russia. Against this backdrop, Gor’s emphasis on personal diplomacy, strategic convergence and sustained dialogue points to an effort to stabilise ties and steer the relationship back toward cooperation and growth in the months ahead.
