US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has described the relationship between India and the United States as increasingly strong, highlighting growing cooperation in trade, defence and diplomacy.
Gor said Prime Minister Narendra Modi would likely be among the most important leaders US President Donald Trump would want to meet during the upcoming G20 Summit in Florida.
According to the ambassador, the personal relationship between Modi and Trump could make the Indian Prime Minister’s visit more significant than simply attending the multilateral gathering.
Modi Likely to Get High-Level Meeting with Trump
Speaking in an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Gor said Modi would be at the top of Trump’s list if the US President had to choose leaders for individual meetings during the G20 gathering.
Gor pointed to the friendship between the two leaders as an important factor behind his expectation of increased engagement during Modi’s December visit to Florida.
Although no separate bilateral meeting has officially been announced, the ambassador indicated that discussions between the two leaders could extend beyond the formal G20 programme.
Trump May Visit India Again
Gor also suggested that Trump could potentially travel to India again next year.
The ambassador said Trump continues to remember his previous India visit positively, particularly his meetings with Indian leaders and the public.
He said the US President frequently recalls his 2020 trip and his relationship with Prime Minister Modi.
India-US Trade Agreement ‘Very Close’
The proposed India-US trade agreement remains another major focus of bilateral relations.
Gor said negotiations had to be adjusted following a US Supreme Court decision, but maintained that the two countries were still close to reaching an agreement.
He expressed hope that the deal could be completed over the coming months.
The ambassador also defended the length of the negotiations, pointing out that major international trade agreements can take years to finalise.
He said India and the US were already further ahead in their discussions than some other major trading partners.
The agreement, according to Gor, would provide economic opportunities for both countries.
India-US trade is currently estimated at around $240 billion, while Modi and Trump have set an ambitious target of taking bilateral trade to approximately $500 billion over the coming years.
Gor Praises Modi for Stability
Gor also praised Prime Minister Modi for what he described as the stability India has provided to the country's economic and political environment.
He said the United States wants to work with a stable India and views India's continued growth as beneficial to both countries.
The ambassador also highlighted increasing investment between the two nations.
He said the US Embassy in India had helped facilitate around $24 billion in new investment in the United States, while American companies were simultaneously increasing their presence in India.
Companies involved in technology, artificial intelligence, data centres and pharmaceuticals were among those expanding their activities across the two markets, Gor said.
India Described as a Trusted US Defence Partner
Gor also highlighted the growing defence relationship between New Delhi and Washington.
He stressed that the partnership was not limited to the purchase and sale of military equipment, saying trust between the two countries had become an important part of defence cooperation.
He cited projects and equipment involving Javelin missiles and Apache helicopters, along with continuing discussions on additional defence cooperation.
The ambassador also pointed to the frequency of joint military exercises between India and the United States.
According to Gor, India conducts more military exercises with the US than with any other country, reflecting the depth of defence cooperation between the two nations.
More Senior US Officials Expected in India
Gor said Indians should expect more visits from senior American officials as Washington continues to strengthen its relationship with New Delhi.
He confirmed that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit India again in October.
Gor described a second visit by the Secretary of State within such a short period as unusual and said it demonstrated the importance Washington places on its relationship with India.
He added that visits by other US Cabinet members were also being planned, although details had not yet been publicly announced.
Three US state governors were also expected to travel to India before the end of the year, he said.
Gor further said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar could visit the United States multiple times over the next few months, including for engagements connected with the United Nations and G20.
According to the ambassador, the increasing number of high-level visits reflects the continued expansion of India-US relations.
Quad Remains Important for India and US
Gor also discussed the Quad, the strategic grouping comprising India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
He said the four countries share a high level of trust and are working together across several areas.
These include humanitarian assistance, disaster response, military interoperability, artificial intelligence, data centres and critical minerals.
The next Quad ministerial meeting is scheduled to take place in Sydney, with Rubio expected to participate.
Gor said the four countries were also working towards another meeting involving their leaders.
While the date for a Quad leaders' summit had not been finalised, he indicated that the United States was strongly interested in bringing the four leaders together.
He said regular communication already takes place among the leaders and that a face-to-face summit would be a natural next step.
India-US Partnership Continues to Expand
Gor's comments underline Washington's emphasis on strengthening ties with New Delhi across several strategic areas.
From defence cooperation and investment to trade negotiations and the Quad, the relationship has expanded beyond traditional diplomatic engagement.
The ambassador's remarks also indicate that both countries are preparing for more frequent high-level exchanges in the months ahead.