Sergio Gor emerges pivotal in rebuilding strained India-US ties amid trade, diplomacy and strategic challenges
A couple of months back, at his prime-time TV show, Rajdeep Sardesai asked Shashi Tharoor, razor sharp at repartee, how to deal with Donald Trump. Shashi cheekily replied: Check with Melania! When I quizzed Tharoor about it at another event, he laughingly said: I was just joking!
Even at the peak of tariff war, when India was seething under 50% tariffs and irresponsible and unsavoury remarks by some members of the Trump Administration were infuriating Indian people and bilateral relations had touched nadir, in my articles, I had maintained that the most effective and reliable help to arrest the downward slide in India-US relations and take them to a new and higher level was available in Delhi ; it was none other than Sergio Gor ! Many observers thought, I was joking. But I wasn’t. Let the facts speak for themselves.
In the last 5 months since his arrival, Sergio has met the PM, the EAM and the NSA more than once and it’s difficult to keep a track of the Central Ministers, State Chief Ministers and Senior Officers he has met. He showed no hesitation in attending the swearing in ceremony of the Chief Minister of Assam and the Chief Minister of West Bengal; President Trump had sent a warm congratulatory message to PM complimenting him on his party’s resounding victory in West Bengal.
On his visit to Mumbai in Jan 2026, he met the CM of Maharashtra, Fadnavis and the RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das and held formal discussion with Tata Son›s head Chandrasekaran. In Feb, he held discussions with Reliance Industries Chairman, Mukesh Ambani. He addressed CII’s Annual Business Summit and met the tycoons of India’s industry like Sunil Mittal Bharti, Gautam Adani and many others. On his X account, he wrote, “We’re building strong momentum across trade, technology, education, energy, and resilient supply chains as the US–India partnership continues to grow.”
Gor shared more positive news at the annual leadership Summit of the American Chamber of Commerce in India in Delhi, “I was thrilled to see Indian companies committing more than $20 billion in investments in the United States at the annual Select Investment Summit. Not only is $20 billion a significant figure, but all embassies compete to bring investment into the US and we were proud that our embassy, working with partners in India, ranked first in the world, an incredible achievement.”
India has joined Pax Silica which will help India in semiconductors, AI Governance, Critical minerals and supply chains. The signing of an agreement between India and the US on Critical minerals was a major outcome of Rubio’s recent visit. Undoubtedly, Sergio has played a crucial role in making these two agreements happen.
Both Rubio and Sergio have emphatically claimed that President Trump loves India and holds PM Modi in high esteems and wants closer relations with India; not surprisingly, it isn’t taken seriously by many cynics. Perhaps, Rubio’s following statement should settle this issue.
“I won’t be here if President Trump didn’t want me to be here. He cares – he won’t have sent someone like Sergio (Gor)to be our ambassador, someone very close to the President.”
Sergio sounded confident that the interim trade agreement could be signed in a few weeks. Hope, he is proved right.
Jaishankar raised the immigration and visa issues at the bilateral talks. Rubio expectedly, explained that the US was presently modernising its immigration policies and these were not India specific. He asserted, after the transition period, the system may be more beneficial than the previous one for “people from India who seek to enter the US to work and innovate.
Rubio’s emphasis on more energy and defence purchases by India was on expected lines. Jaishankar underlined Govt’s commitment to make accessible and affordable energy available to 1.4 billion people. “For our energy security, it’s important that we have multiple sources, large, dependable and cheap” he added.
Rubio downplayed the differences and claimed that India-US strategic partnership was special because the two countries were aligned on all great challenges of the modern era. Both the US and India must not let the positive vibes witnessed during rubio’s visit dissipate, rather build on them.
The manner in which Gor called President in the middle the Independence 250 celebrations at the Embassy in Delhi when Oscar winning Indian music director, AR Rahman was performing, showed beyond any doubt that he had access to him and enjoyed his trust.
Trump said, “India can count on me 100%. I am a big fan of PM Modi.”
With this proximity and rapport with the President, Sergio should try to get the following done.
1.Advise Trump Administration to show sensitivity to Indian public opinion; love India and calling her hell hole can’t go together.
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Let the disagreements on bilateral issues, if any, be handled through diplomatic channels, statements in public and on social networks seldom help, they vitiate the atmosphere.
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There doesn’t have to be a conflict between MAGA goal of President Trump and PM Modi’s vision to make India Great. The Govts in two countries should focus on complementarities, convergences with mutual understanding and mutual accommodation and shun accusations and coercion.
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For strength of strategic partnership and growth of business, investment and cooperation in all spheres, a degree of certainty and predictability is indispensable.
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Balanced trade is achievable; it requires realisation of each other’s limitations and red lines; the deal must be saleable to public.
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Should advise President Trump to attend QUAD Summit in India.
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Zero tolerance of terrorism must include terrorism emanating from Pakistan; USA should press Pakistan to cease to be the epicentre of international terrorism.
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Any thaw and G-2 type relations with China shouldn’t impinge on India negatively.
The current energy crises, disruption of supply chains and shortage of fertilisers are devastating millions of people.
Iran-US conflict can be solved with flexibility and reasonable compromise not by unending threat of total destruction.
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Surendra Kumar is a retired
