US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Saturday, 27 June declared that India-US relations are in a robust position, anchored by the personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Speaking from Washington six months into his posting, Gor said the bilateral trade agreement is on track and could be finalised within weeks or months.

A Partnership Built on Personal Ties

Gor described the Modi-Trump relationship as a core stabiliser of the broader bilateral partnership. 'The President holds the Prime Minister and India in highest regard,' he said, adding that Trump frequently recalls his first visit to India and the energy he witnessed there. Gor noted that the two leaders held a meeting of over an hour on the sidelines of a recent gathering in France, covering trade, defence, and several issues he said could be announced 'over the next few weeks.'

The Ambassador drew a parallel between the two leaders' working styles, describing both as 'hands-on' and 'results-driven.' He said this shared disposition is 'one of the core anchors of their relationship.'

Trade Deal: Language Is the Final Hurdle

On the long-anticipated bilateral trade agreement, Gor said negotiations have been under way for one and a half years and that 'a handful of issues' remain, primarily around finalising language both sides will sign. He confirmed he was present in New Delhi for meetings between US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal just 48 hours before the interview. 'Both sides will be happy,' Gor said, declining to reveal specifics. He noted that the EU-US trade deal, by comparison, remains unfinished after 20 years of negotiations.

Defence, Energy, and Commercial Diplomacy

Gor highlighted that India conducts more defence exercises with the United States than any other country and exports more to the US than any other nation. On energy, he welcomed India's growing imports of American energy, calling diversification of supply sources a strategic necessity — particularly in light of disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. He also pointed to a surge in technology investment, citing Amazon's announcement of a $40-plus billion deal in India as one example of deepening commercial ties. He said the US Embassy in India was ranked number one among all American embassies globally for attracting investment into the United States, facilitating over $20 billion in new investments in a single year.

H-1B Visas and Immigration: Not Targeted at India

Addressing concerns over H-1B visa scrutiny and reports of rising hate crimes in the US, Gor said the immigration review is a systemic overhaul — not directed at any single country. 'This is not targeted at India,' he said, framing the tighter immigration posture as a correction of what the administration views as open-border policies under previous governments. He acknowledged that India, given its large population, is disproportionately affected, but said people-to-people ties, trade, and commerce would continue uninterrupted.

Trump India Visit and the Road Ahead

On the question of a President Trump visit to India, Gor confirmed that Trump is 'very keen to come' and that the matter came up during a meeting in the Oval Office shortly before the interview. He did not provide dates, citing the President's domestic schedule ahead of US midterm elections, but said India is 'high on the list.' Gor also referenced ongoing cooperation on Pax Silica and artificial intelligence as areas where both governments are actively engaged, with Indian delegations visiting Washington the same week. He said he plans to return to India the following week.