New Delhi: US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor on Saturday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, where the duo discussed bilateral issues, including defence, trade, and technology. The envoy presented the Prime Minister with a signed photograph of himself with US President Donald Trump at the White House, on which Trump had written, “Mr Prime Minister, you are great”.
The meeting took place amid ongoing whirlwinds in New Delhi-Washington relations following the US imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports. PM Modi expressed hope of further strengthening bilateral ties under the new envoy’s tenure.
Sharing a picture with the envoy, the Prime Minister tweeted, “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.”
Gor, after the meeting, said that “President Trump considers PM Modi a great and personal friend,” adding that the discussions covered trade, defence, and technology, as well as the importance of critical minerals.
Ahead of his meeting with the Prime Minister, he also met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
“It’s an honour and a privilege to be here today. We just finished an incredible meeting with Prime Minister Modi, where we discussed bilateral issues, including defence, trade, and technology. We also discussed the importance of critical minerals and the importance of them to both of our nations. The US values its relationship with India, and under the strong leadership of President Donald J Trump and Prime Minister Modi, I’m optimistic about the days ahead for both of our nations,” he told reporters.
The envoy is on a six-day visit to India after the US Senate confirmed his appointment as the American Ambassador to India. Gor is accompanied by Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J Rigas.
Gor, a 38-year-old close aide to Trump and a key figure in the MAGA campaign, has also been appointed as Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asia.
Relations between New Delhi and Washington have come under severe strain after President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to a staggering 50 per cent, including an additional 25 per cent duty on India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. India described the US action as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”
However, recent phone conversations between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump have raised hopes of a positive outcome from the ongoing trade negotiations.
India and the US recently resumed talks on the trade deal after a brief hiatus of a few weeks. Yet, both countries are still seeking a concrete breakthrough in the discussions and in finalising a bilateral trade agreement.
During his recent Senate testimony, Gor described the current strain in relations as just a “hiccup” that would soon be resolved, noting that even when the US President has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to praise the Indian Prime Minister.
