Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next US ambassador to India, told lawmakers that the US President shares an “incredible relationship" with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and has consistently gone out of his way to praise him even while criticising India on trade issues.
Responding to a question from Senator Bill Hagerty during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Gor said that Trump’s friendship with Narendra Modi is “unique" and unlike his approach with other world leaders.
“When the President has gone after other nations, he has tended to go after their leaders for putting us in that position and for the United States imposing those tariffs," Gor said. “When he has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to compliment Prime Minister Modi. They have an incredible relationship. I’ve been with them in the same room."
Gor added that the US and India are “not that far apart" from reaching a deal on tariffs but acknowledged that getting New Delhi to stop buying Russian oil remains a difficult challenge.
Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piysuh Goyal told news agency PTI that the negotiations between India and the US on the proposed trade agreement, which began in March, are progressing in a positive atmosphere and both the countries are satisfied with the progress.
These remarks follow the announcement by Trump that there will be “no difficulty" for the two countries to come to a successful conclusion in trade talks and he looks forward to speaking with his “very good friend" Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the coming weeks.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, the US president said he was “pleased to announce that India, and the United States of America, are continuing negotiations to address the Trade Barriers between our two Nations." Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday reacted warmly to Trump’s positive assessment of trade talks between the two countries, expressing confidence that the ongoing negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the partnership between them.
India and the US are close friends and natural partners, PM Modi has said on X, adding that both countries are working to conclude the trade discussions at the earliest.
Sergio Gor On ‘Pulling India Away’ From China
Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to India, said on Thursday that Washington would make it a “top priority" to strengthen ties with New Delhi and distance India from Beijing.
Speaking to reporters on foreign relations, Gor stressed that Indo-US relations are “far warmer" compared to India’s ties with China.
“We will make it a top priority that India is pulled into our side and away from them," he said.
Source: News18
