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    Op-Ed                                                                JANUARY 23, 2026      |  The Indian Eye 12

                                                          INDIAN INTEREST

            What Washington Must Get Right

                     in Its Relationship With India

            As a new US ambassador takes charge in New Delhi, ambition in the India–US partnership collides

                   with strategic uncertainty, erratic signals from Washington and an unresolved trust deficit

                                                                                                                  and familiarity are signals that he un-
                                                                                                                  derstands the importance of optics
                                                                                                                  and reassurance in diplomacy.
                                                                                                                      India, for its part, is likely to
                                                                                                                  respond positively. New Delhi has
                                                                                                                  shown remarkable consistency in en-
                                                                                                                  gaging successive US administrations,
                                                                                                                  irrespective of party. It has invested
                                                                                                                  heavily in defense interoperability,
                                                                                                                  welcomed American companies into
                                                                                                                  its market, and aligned with the US
                                                                                                                  on issues ranging from the Indo-Pa-
                                                                                                                  cific to critical technologies. India’s
                     SHOBHAN SAXENA                                                                               response to Gor’s agenda will not be
                                                                                                                  obstructionist; it will be cautious, cal-
                  he arrival of a new American                                                                    ibrated and pragmatic.
                  ambassador in New Delhi                                                                             But positivity alone cannot
            Tis usually a procedural mo-                                                                          bridge a trust gap. That requires a
            ment, marked by polite platitudes                                                                     conscious effort from the US side
            and predictable promises. Yet Sergio                                                                  to demonstrate strategic steadiness.
            Gor’s presentation of credentials to                                                                  If Washington wants India to play a
            President Droupadi Murmu comes                                                                        larger role in balancing China, se-
            at a time when India–US relations                                                                     curing supply chains and stabilizing
            are anything but routine. Beneath   Sergio Gor’s background as a political operative close to Donald Trump gives him access and   the Indo-Pacific, it must also accept
            the talk of “promise and opportuni-                   credibility within the American system          India’s need for autonomy and policy
            ty” lies a relationship facing familiar                                                               space. Pressure tactics, public admo-
            frictions, new uncertainties and, most   ton’s foreign policy  has become  in-  straints and interests.  nitions or abrupt policy shifts only
            worryingly,  a  lingering  trust  deficit   creasingly erratic, shaped by domes-  Trust, once dented, is hard to   reinforce Indian skepticism.
            that neither side can afford to ignore.  tic political  compulsions and sharp   rebuild. India remembers past sanc-  The larger truth is that the US
                Gor has been explicit about his   swings in tone depending on who   tions, technology denials and mo-  needs India as much as India needs
            ambition. He wants to take the part-  is speaking. This unpredictability   ments when US strategic priorities   the  US—perhaps  more  than  Wash-
            nership “to the next level,” focusing   complicates decision-making in New   shifted abruptly. Even as defense co-  ington is willing to admit. In a frag-
            on defense, trade, technology and   Delhi,  where  long-term  strategic   operation has deepened and military   mented world marked by geopolitical
            critical minerals. On paper, this   planning is prized and sudden policy   exercises have expanded, the shadow   rivalry and economic decoupling, In-
            agenda aligns neatly with India’s own   reversals are viewed with suspicion.  of conditionality has never fully dis-  dia stands out as a rare convergence
            priorities—strategic autonomy with    Donald Trump’s comments on    appeared. For Indian policymakers,  point: a large democracy, a growing
            stronger military capabilities, access   India and Prime Minister Narendra   the concern is not whether the US val-  economy and a strategic actor with
            to advanced technologies, resilient   Modi illustrate the problem. Am-  ues India today, but whether that val-  independent credibility. For the US,
            supply chains and a bigger role in the   bassador  Gor  insists  that  Trump’s   uation will survive the next election   partnership with India is not a favor;
            global economy. New Delhi has little   friendship with Modi is “real” and   cycle or policy pivot in Washington.  it is a strategic necessity.
            reason to resist such a framework.  that “real friends can disagree.” That   This is where Gor’s role becomes   A positive response, therefore,
            Indeed, India has repeatedly shown   may be true at a personal level. But   significant. His background as a po-  must begin in Washington. Clear
            that it wants deeper engagement   public remarks that question In-  litical operative close to the Trump   signals on trade, restraint in rhetoric,
            with the United States, provided it is   dia’s trade practices, hint at punitive   ecosystem gives him access and cred-  and consistency in strategic commit-
            based on mutual respect and strate-  tariffs, or frame relations in purely   ibility within the American system.  ments would go a long way in restor-
            gic consistency.                  transactional terms are not helpful.  If used wisely, that proximity could   ing confidence. Ambassador Gor can
                That caveat matters. The central   They feed a narrative in India that   help translate Indian concerns into   play an important role in conveying
            challenge in current India–US rela-  the United States is an unreliable   Washington’s political language. His   this reality back home. Diplomacy,
            tions is not a lack of shared interests   partner, quick to demand alignment   emphasis on high-level relationships   after all, is not just about ambition; it
            but a lack of predictability. Washing-  but slow to acknowledge India’s con-  and his attempt to project warmth   is about reassurance.

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