US Ambassador-Designate Sergio Gor Meets PM Modi to Strengthen India–US Ties

New Delhi: US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, reaffirming Washington’s commitment to strengthen the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership amid ongoing trade tensions.

The meeting, held at the Prime Minister’s residence, covered a wide range of issues including defence cooperation, technology collaboration, trade policy, and critical minerals.

During the courtesy call, Gor presented Prime Minister Modi with a signed photograph of himself alongside US President Donald Trump, featuring the handwritten note, “Mr Prime Minister, you are great.”

‘President Trump Holds PM Modi in High Regard’

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Gor said President Trump considers PM Modi “a great and personal friend.” He added that both leaders share a vision for a stronger, self-reliant partnership built on mutual respect and strategic alignment.

“It’s an honour and a privilege to meet Prime Minister Modi. We had an incredible discussion on defence, trade, technology, and the importance of critical minerals to both nations. Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Modi, I’m optimistic about the future of our partnership,” Gor said, according to India Today.

Before his meeting with the Prime Minister, the envoy also met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri for preliminary consultations.

Tariff Tensions Cloud Ties but Dialogue Continues

The visit comes at a delicate time in India–US relations, following Washington’s move to impose 50 percent tariffs on Indian exports and an additional 25 percent duty on imports of Russian crude oil refined in India. New Delhi has called the measures “unfair and unreasonable.”

Despite the strain, both sides have recently resumed talks on a long-pending bilateral trade agreement, signaling cautious optimism.

Prime Minister Modi shared a photo of his meeting with Gor on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“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.”

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.@SergioGor pic.twitter.com/WSzsPxrJXv

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 11, 2025

Trump Ally Begins Six-Day India Visit

Sergio Gor, 38, is a close aide of President Trump and a key figure in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) campaign. Recently confirmed by the US Senate, Gor has also been appointed as Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia.

He arrived in New Delhi on a six-day official visit, accompanied by Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas.

Gor’s tenure begins at a time when both nations are seeking to balance strategic cooperation with economic pragmatism — particularly in areas like semiconductors, defence production, and critical minerals vital to future technologies.