NEW DELHI, Jan. 12 — Sergio Gor on Monday took oath as the United States Ambassador-designate to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia at the US Embassy in the national capital. He is expected to present his credentials to the President of India later this week.
Addressing a gathering at the embassy, Gor said he could personally attest to the strength of the relationship between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, describing their friendship as “real” and rooted at the highest levels of leadership.
“I have 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 a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end,” Gor said.
Calling his appointment an honour, Gor said he arrived in India with “profound respect” and a clear mission to elevate bilateral ties. “This is the intersection between the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy,” he said, recalling Trump’s fond memories of his previous visit to India and his close rapport with Prime Minister Modi.
Gor also expressed hope that President Trump would visit India in the near future. “I hope the President will be visiting us soon, hopefully in the next year or two. President Trump has a habit of calling at 2 in the morning, and with the time difference in New Delhi, it might work out pretty well,” he remarked.
Emphasising the strategic importance of India to US foreign policy, Gor said no partner was more essential. “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,” he said.
On the ongoing India-US trade negotiations, Gor acknowledged the complexity of reaching an agreement but said both sides remained committed. “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,” he said, adding that the next round of trade discussions was scheduled for Tuesday.
While trade remains a key pillar of the relationship, Gor said cooperation would continue across a broad range of areas, including security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education, and health.
Making a major announcement, Gor said India would be invited next month to join PaxSilica, a US-led strategic initiative aimed at building a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain. “PaxSilica is designed to span critical minerals and energy inputs through advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI development, and logistics,” he said.
He noted that founding members of the initiative include Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Israel, and said India’s inclusion as a full member reflected its growing role in global technology and supply chains.
“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,” Gor said. Thanking India for the warm welcome, he praised the country’s resilience, innovation, and cultural depth, and said he looked forward to travelling across the nation.
“To the staff here at the embassy, I’m excited to work with you. You and I have an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to redefine diplomacy. What it can accomplish could be the most consequential global partnership of this century,” he said.
India and the United States share a comprehensive global strategic partnership spanning nearly all sectors, driven by shared democratic values, converging interests on key global issues, and strong people-to-people ties.
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