New Delhi: US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor assumed office in New Delhi on Monday and immediately announced that India and the United States would take the “next call” on the proposed trade deal on Tuesday. Terming India-US ties as “the most consequential global partnership of this century”, Gor said that “no partner (for the US) is more essential than India”, adding: “In the months and years ahead, it is my goal as ambassador to pursue a very ambitious agenda. We will do this as true strategic partners, each bringing strength, respect and leadership to the table … We are raising the standard for diplomacy itself. That means fair trade, mutual respect and shared security.” Gor also announced India would be invited next month to join the Pax Silica, a US-led initiative on silicon supply chains relating to critical minerals, semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Gor, a close confidante of US President Donald Trump, is expected to present his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu soon.
On the proposed bilateral trade deal with India that his country is still negotiating, Gor said: “Many of you have asked me for an update on the ongoing trade deal negotiations. Both sides continue to actively engage. In fact, the next call on trade will occur tomorrow. Remember, India is the world’s largest nation, so it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there. And while trade is very important for our relationship, we will continue to work closely together on other very important areas, such as security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education and health.”
Speaking in the backdrop of strained ties between the two nations after the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India in August last year, Gor remarked: “Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end.” He also hinted at a visit to India by President Donald Trump “hopefully in the next year or two”.
The US ambassador-designate revealed: “I also want to share with you today a new initiative that the United States launched just last month, called Pax Silica. Pax Silica is a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous and innovation-driven silicon supply chain from critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI development and logistics. The nations that joined last month include Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom and Israel. Today, I’m pleased to announce that India will be invited to join this group of nations as a full member next month. As the world adopts new technology, it is essential that India and the United States work hand-in-hand from the very start of this initiative.”
Talking about the relationship between President Trump and Modi, Gor said: “I’ve travelled all over the world with President Trump, and I can attest that his friendship with Prime Minister Modi is real. The United States and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by relationship anchored at the highest levels… When President Donald Trump asked me to come here, I was thrilled. I was with the President last week, and as we had dinner right after New Year’s, he recounted his incredible experience visiting India, and also his great friendship with the great Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister Modi. I also hope that the President will be visiting us soon, hopefully in the next year or two… I spoke with President Trump just yesterday, and I bring his warm wishes to all the people of India, especially his dear friend, the incredible Prime Minister, His Excellency Prime Minister Modi.”
Soon after taking over, Gor said: “It is great to be here as the United States ambassador. I come to this remarkable nation with profound respect and with a clear mission to take the partnership between our two great nations to the next level… This is the intersection of the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy. My first visit to India was in 2013, and it left an impression on me unlike any other place. I remember visiting some of the incredible places this nation has, of course the Taj Mahal, Jaipur, Ranthambore — we even went up to Punjab — and many other places. The friendly people, the colours, the incredible history, the innovation and the spirit that I met on that trip over a decade ago, I’ve never forgotten, and I’ve always wanted to come back. And what an incredible way to be back in this incredible nation as your next US ambassador.”
