WASHINGTON: Sergio Gor, U.S. President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next Ambassador to India, has held up the “deep friendship” between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a cornerstone for advancing the two countries’ strategic partnership.
Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday, the 38-year-old director of presidential personnel at the White House called the personal rapport between the two leaders “incredible” and “unique,” and said it would help him strengthen ties if he is confirmed.
> “Our President has a deep friendship with Prime Minister Modi, which is unique,” Gor told senators. “When he goes after other nations, he tends to go after their leaders … When he has been critical of India, he goes out of his way to compliment Prime Minister Modi. They have an incredible relationship.”
Gor outlined an agenda to deepen defence, security and economic cooperation with New Delhi, calling India “a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond.” He cited India’s geographic position, economic growth and military capacity as reasons Washington views it as a “cornerstone of regional stability and a critical part of promoting prosperity and advancing our shared security interests.”
He also acknowledged recent trade frictions — including U.S. tariffs of up to 50 per cent on Indian exports linked to Russian oil purchases — but insisted the broader partnership would remain a top priority. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who attended the hearing, echoed that sentiment, describing India as “one of the most important relationships our nation has in the world today.”
If confirmed, Gor would fill the vacancy left by former ambassador Eric Garcetti and become the youngest U.S. envoy to New Delhi. He promised senators that, once in post, he would prioritise closer coordination on Indo-Pacific security, joint military exercises, and high-level dialogues to sustain momentum in the bilateral relationship.
The hearing underscored how both the administration and Congress see the personal dynamic between Trump and Modi as a valuable asset in navigating trade disputes while expanding cooperation in defence, technology and regional security.
