US ambassador-designate to India, Sergio Gor, on Thursday described President Donald Trump’s personal rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as “something unique,” saying the US President makes it a point to avoid criticising Modi even when expressing displeasure with India’s policy decisions.“If you have noticed, when he has gone after other nations, he tends to go after their leaders for putting us in that position, and for the United States imposing those tariffs. When the President has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to compliment Prime Minister Modi. They have an incredible relationship,” Gor told members of the senate foreign relations committee (SFRC) during his confirmation hearing.
Gor’s remarks come at a time when bilateral ties have been tested by trade tensions and US displeasure over India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. While India has faced tariff penalties under Trump’s executive orders, China has not, despite buying larger quantities of Russian oil, a discrepancy noted by Democratic senator Jeanne Shaheen during the hearing.“We hold our friends to different standards. Frankly, we expect more from India than we do sometimes from other nations,” Gor explained.Despite friction over tariffs and energy policy, Gor emphasised that the two countries are close to finalising a trade agreement. “We are not that far apart right now… In fact, they’re negotiating the nitty gritty of a deal,” he said, adding that India’s commerce and trade ministers have been invited to Washington to meet with US trade representative Jamieson Greer next week. Secretary of state Marco Rubio, who made an unusual appearance to personally introduce the ambassadorial nominees, echoed the administration’s strategic vision of India’s role in the Indo-Pacific, stating – “India is among America’s TOP relationships for shaping the world’s future.” He also reaffirmed the importance of India in the renamed Indo-Pacific Command, saying, “The story of the 21st century will be written in the Indo-Pacific... India is at the core of that.” Gor reiterated Trump’s commitment to the Quad grouping, which includes India, Japan, and Australia, though he did not confirm if the US President would attend the next Quad summit scheduled in India later this year. Amid growing US concerns over India’s participation in forums like the Shanghai cooperation organisation (SCO), where it shares the stage with Russia and China, Gor assured lawmakers: “The US and India have a lot more in common than they have with Russia or China… If confirmed, I will ensure they (India) are pulled in our direction, not away from us.”SFRC chair Jim Risch also warned that the US “will not tolerate support for Putin’s war machine,” urging Gor to convey a firm message to New Delhi on the Russian oil issue.Gor, a close Trump confidant with direct access to the President, framed his mission in India as one focused on managing strategic convergence amid policy divergence. He made clear that while trade and geopolitical differences remain, the foundation of the US-India relationship, anchored by the leadership dynamic between Trump and Modi, remains strong.
