Sergio Gor / USISPF

U.S. Ambassador to India and U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor on June 29 said the India-U.S. partnership remains on strong footing, pointing to growing cooperation in trade, defense, investment, and technology.

Delivering a special address at the ninth U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit, Gor dismissed suggestions that the relationship is weakening, saying, "To all those pundits that sit online and tweet and say, 'This relationship is in trouble,' when you look at the facts of where this relationship stands, whether it's trade, whether it's defense, whether it's the people-to-people ties, the relationship is on strong footing, and we need everyone here to continue working towards taking that relationship to the next level."

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Gor said the Trump administration remains focused on delivering tangible outcomes in the bilateral relationship, describing itself as "results-driven."

"I did not go to India to sit at receptions," he said. "I went over there to be able to increase this partnership that is so vitally important to both of our sides."

Trade deal

Providing an update on negotiations, Gor said India and the United States are in the final stages of concluding a bilateral trade agreement.

"My first month there, we had announced an interim trade deal... We are very close," he said, noting that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer had recently spent two days in New Delhi and that negotiations have reached "the last one or two percent" of the agreement.

Acknowledging questions about the pace of negotiations, Gor said trade agreements of this scale typically require significant time.

"We've been at this trade deal for a year and a half. To put it into perspective, the European trade deal took 20 years," he said. "I'm determined to bring this to a close because this is a deal that is beneficial to both sides. This is a win-win situation."

He added that the agreement would provide greater certainty and stability for businesses engaged in bilateral trade.

Trust, investment, and technology

Gor highlighted India's inclusion among the first ten countries invited to join the Pax AI initiative, describing the partnership as one built on trust.

"The United States didn't just invite every single country in the world to join Pax AI. We're inviting individuals that we trust, that we can work with, and that continue working with us in the future," he said.

Reflecting on his first six months in India, Gor said he has seen opportunities for deeper cooperation emerge across virtually every sector.

"Whether that's AI, technology, defense, it's unlimited potential," he said. "United States wants to work hand in hand with India. We care about this relationship."

Gor also said President Donald Trump places significant importance on the bilateral relationship, recalling recent discussions with the president.

"He has very fond memories of India," Gor said, adding that Trump continues to speak positively about his previous visit and hopes to return to India in the future.

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Highlighting investment ties, Gor said the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi had helped facilitate $20.5 billion in new investments into the United States this year, placing the mission first among U.S. embassies worldwide.

He said American companies continue to seek assurances on intellectual property protection, taxation, and regulatory stability before investing overseas.

"It's an incredibly gratifying thing to say that the United States trusts India, we work with India, and we look forward to identifying those next opportunities for both our sides," he said.

High-level engagement 

Gor said the embassy has also prioritized expanding high-level government engagement between the two countries, citing visits by senior U.S. officials, including the Secretaries of the Army and Commerce, as well as the Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

He recalled Rubio's recent four-day visit to India, during which the secretary traveled beyond New Delhi to Jaipur, Agra, and Kolkata.

According to Gor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi later asked Rubio about his visit during the G7 Summit in France, and Rubio expressed interest in returning to India before the end of the year. Gor added that several other U.S. Cabinet secretaries have also expressed interest in visiting India in the coming months.

The ambassador also announced that foreign ministers of the Quad countries are expected to meet on the sidelines of upcoming engagements in the Philippines in about two weeks, while preparations continue for a future Quad ministerial meeting in Australia.

Lastly, Gor pointed to the rapid expansion of bilateral trade–from $20 billion two decades ago to $220 billion today–and reiterated the goal announced by President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to increase trade to $500 billion over the coming years.

He also noted that India conducts more defense exercises with the United States than with any other country, describing trade, defense cooperation, and people-to-people ties as evidence that the partnership continues to strengthen. 

Gor concluded his address by urging stakeholders and businesses to work closely with the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, saying it remains "open for business" and committed to supporting bilateral engagement.

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