Newly‐appointed US envoy to India Sergio Gor said President Donald Trump's friendship with PM Narendra Modi is 'real' and such friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end.
New Delhi: Signaling a definitive thaw, newly-appointed US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said that US President Donald Trump may visit India by next year, adding that Trump’s friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is real.
Speaking at the US Embassy in Delhi as he took charge as envoy, Gor asserted that real friends can resolve their differences. “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," he said in his arrival speech.
"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," Gor added. He noted that while trade is very important for New Delhi and Washington's relationship, both nations also continue to work closely together on other very important areas such as security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education, and health.
"I have travelled all over the world with President Trump, and I can attest that his friendship with Prime Minister Modi is real," Gor stressed.
"This is the intersection between the world's oldest democracy and the world's largest democracy. During my last dinner with him, President Trump recounted his last visit to India and also his great friendship with the great Prime Minister of India. 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 added.
Gor emphasized the importance of the strategic relationship with India and said he intends to pursue an ambitious agenda. "No partner is more essential than India. 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 emphasized.
Speaking on the ongoing negotiations of the India-US trade deal, Gor acknowledged that it was a challenging task and said he was determined to get it across the finish line. Gor also announced that India will be a member of the Pax Silica alliance.
He also presented his credentials as US Ambassador to India to President Droupadi Murmu. “I am grateful to President Trump for his trust and confidence, and proud to carry forward his Administration’s priorities. Together, we will strengthen our partnership in security, trade, energy, and technology, building the US-India partnership that will define the 21st century,” he mentioned.
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1st tranche of India-US trade deal to be signed soon The first tranche of the India-US trade deal, which is expected to result in lowering of the tariff hike imposed by the US administration on Indian exports, is close to being finalized, though no timeline can be committed, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said here on Thursday. There was a virtual meeting between India's commerce minister Piyush Goyal and the US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer in the last week of December, and negotiating teams on both sides are in continuous talks to arrive at a consensus, Agrawal said. The US has imposed a punitive tariff of 50 per cent on most Indian goods, which is among the highest in the world. India hopes that exports to the US will remain in positive territory. Electronics shipments, which are currently tariff-free, have been a key driver so far, even as higher duties continue to impact other sectors, the Commerce Secretary explained. Both sides remain engaged and committed to securing a deal, Agrawal said. |
