2 hours ago
Last Updated:September 11, 2025, 21:56 IST
Sergio Gor, Donald Trump's nominee for US Ambassador to India, called New Delhi a strategic partner at his Senate confirmation.
US President Donald Trump and Sergio Gor are seen.
US President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Washington and New Delhi are “not that far apart right now" on a trade deal, saying talks have entered the “nitty-gritty" stage. Sergio Gor emphasised that India remains a “strategic partner" for the United States and pledged to deepen cooperation across security, trade and shared values if confirmed.
“India is not simply a regional ally but a strategic partner," he said, outlining his priorities as rebuilding trust, resolving trade frictions and expanding collaboration in climate, defense and technology.
Sergio Gor also pointed to the personal chemistry between the two leaders, saying, “President Trump has a deep friendship with Prime Minister Modi. If you’ve noticed, when he goes after other nations, he goes after their leaders. When President Trump has been critical of India, he goes out of his way to compliment Modi."
India–US Tariff Tensions
Sergio Gor faced questions over Donald Trump’s tariff policy. When asked why India had been subjected to some of the steepest duties while China had not, he responded, “Look, we hold our friends to different standards. We expect more from India than we do from other nations."
The Donald Trump administration has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal duty on Indian goods, along with an additional 25 per cent levy tied to India’s purchase of Russian oil- bringing the total tariff burden to 50 per cent, among the highest globally. Donald Trump has accused New Delhi of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine" by buying discounted crude, even as he has stopped short of imposing harsher sanctions on Moscow.
The remarks come as Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal signalled that the first tranche of a trade deal with the United States should be ready by November 2025.
“In February 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump together instructed us that the ministers of both sides should make a good agreement by November 2025. The first part of that agreement, the first tranche, should be finalised by November 2025, and since March, discussions have been going on very seriously, in a good environment. Progress is being made, and both sides are satisfied," he said.
Who Is Sergio Gor?
Sergio Gor currently serves as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. His nomination as ambassador to India was announced on August 22, alongside an additional appointment as Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. A close Donald Trump aide known for his conservative credentials, his nomination is being closely watched in both Washington and New Delhi.
If confirmed, Sergio Gor would be one of the youngest US ambassadors to India. The process carries added significance as the envoy’s post in New Delhi has remained vacant since January 2025.
Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
September 11, 2025, 20:50 IST
News world India, US 'Not That Far Apart' On Trade Deal: Trump's Ambassador Pick Sergio Gor
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