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EYE ON INDIA SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 | The Indian Eye 6

SERGIO GOR

US-India Ties: Ambassador Nominee Gives

a Personal Touch for Trade and Strategy

As Sergio Gor awaits confirmation as the US Ambassador to India, his testimony highlights a

roadmap for closer trade, defense, and strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Washington.

OUR BUREAU
Washington, DC
ergio Gor, President Donald Trump’s close
aide and nominee for US Ambassador to In-
Sdia, has brought renewed focus on the trajec-
tory of India-US relations. In his testimony before
the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Gor out-
lined a comprehensive strategy for strengthening
bilateral ties—one that hinges on personal diplo-
macy, trade expansion, and aligning strategic inter-
ests to counter shared challenges. His comments
suggest that the next phase of this partnership may
be defined by both pragmatic cooperation and a re-
newed emphasis on trust.
At the heart of Gor’s pitch is the idea of restor-
ing what he calls the “personal touch” in diploma-
cy. He repeatedly emphasized the unique relation-
ship between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gor pledged to work toward Trump’s ambitious “Mission 500,” which aims to double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 (PBS)
President Trump, noting that even when the US
President has criticized other nations, he has gone in areas such as defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, A DEFINING PARTNERSHIP
out of his way to compliment Modi. This personal and technology. or concluded his testimony by reiterating
equation, Gor suggested, creates political capital The focus on trade is also strategic. A deep- India’s importance to regional and global
that can be leveraged to resolve outstanding issues, er commercial partnership would not only benefit Gstability. Calling India “one of the most im-
including tariffs and energy cooperation. American workers and businesses but also posi- portant relationships our nation has in the world,”
Personal diplomacy has long been a hallmark tion India as a counterweight to China’s economic
of India-US relations, particularly in moments of dominance. Gor explicitly linked stronger trade he framed the partnership as essential to shaping
the international order of the 21st century.
breakthrough—whether it was Bill Clinton’s en- ties with India to reducing Beijing’s leverage, espe- This framing is not new—leaders from both
gagement with Atal Bihari Vajpayee, George W. cially in Asia and Africa. countries have often described the relationship
Bush’s civil nuclear deal with Manmohan Singh, or in similar terms—but Gor’s articulation signals a
Barack Obama’s “defining partnership” with India. DEFENSE AND SECURITY more transactional and results-driven approach.
Gor’s focus on this approach indicates that Wash- or also placed significant emphasis on de- His agenda blends traditional diplomacy with con-
ington sees Modi as a pivotal figure to anchor deep- fense and security cooperation. His vision crete deliverables: tariff resolution within weeks,
er ties, especially in an election cycle where Trump is Gincludes expanding joint military exercises, doubling trade within years, and advancing defense
keen to showcase strong international partnerships.
advancing co-development and co-production of and technology partnerships for decades.
FROM TARIFFS TO “MISSION 500” defense systems, and concluding pending defense If confirmed, Sergio Gor will step into a role
sales. These initiatives would both enhance India’s that has long required balancing high expectations
A with structural challenges. India remains wary of
central theme of Gor’s testimony was trade. defense capabilities and support the American de-
While acknowledging frictions, particularly fense industry—a classic win-win in bilateral rela-
external pressure on oil imports and market access,
around tariffs—India’s 50% duties on cer-
Importantly, Gor contextualized defense co-
clearer alignments. Yet Gor’s testimony suggests
tain goods and Washington’s push for reciprocity— tions. while the US often pushes for faster reforms and
he argued that the two sides are “not that far apart” operation within the broader Indo-Pacific strategy. Washington is willing to invest political capital in
on reaching a deal. This is significant, given that He acknowledged India’s concerns over Chinese bridging these gaps, leveraging leadership ties and
trade irritants have often overshadowed the larger expansionism, noting that Beijing’s assertiveness is pursuing a long-term strategic vision.
strategic partnership. not confined to the Himalayan border but extends For India and the US, the ambassadorial ap-
Gor pledged to work toward President across the region. pointment is more than a diplomatic formality—it
Trump’s ambitious “Mission 500,” which aims to For Washington, strengthening India’s mili- is an opportunity to test whether the world’s two
double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. tary capacity and aligning its strategic posture with largest democracies can convert shared values and
Achieving this would require not just incremental the US is essential to balancing China’s rise. If converging interests into tangible outcomes. In an
adjustments but a comprehensive framework that confirmed, Gor’s mandate would involve not just era marked by shifting alliances and economic com-
lowers regulatory barriers, enhances transparency transactional arms deals but deeper institutional petition, Sergio Gor’s tenure could prove pivotal
in Indian markets, and expands American exports integration of defense planning. in defining the next phase of India-US relations.

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