By Mallika Soni,News18

Copyright news18

US President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that Washington and New Delhi are “not that far apart right now” on a trade deal, adding that discussions had moved to the “nitty-gritty” stage.
Sergio Gor, 38, emphasised that India remains a “strategic partner” for the United States and pledged to strengthen ties across security, trade and shared values if confirmed.
“India is not simply a regional ally but a strategic partner,” he said, outlining priorities that include rebuilding trust, addressing trade frictions and expanding cooperation in climate, defense and technology.
“President Trump has a deep friendship with Prime Minister Modi. If you’ve noticed, when he goes after other nations, he goes after their leaders. When President Trump has been critical of India, he goes out of his way to compliment Modi,” Sergio Gor added.
India-US Tariff Tensions
Sergio Gor faced tough questioning over Donald Trump’s tariff policy. When asked why India had been hit with some of the steepest duties while China was spared, he replied, “Look, we hold our friends to different standards. We expect more from India than we do from other nations.”
Under Donald Trump, Washington has imposed a 25 per cent reciprocal duty on Indian goods and an additional 25 per cent levy linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, bringing total tariffs to 50 per cent- among the highest in the world. Donald Trump has accused India of “fueling Russia’s deadly attacks on Ukraine” by buying discounted crude, even as he has stopped short of tougher sanctions on Moscow.
Who Is Sergio Gor?
Sergio Gor currently serves as director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. His nomination as ambassador to India was announced on August 22, along with an additional role as Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. A close aide to Donald Trump with strong conservative credentials, his appointment is being closely watched both in Washington and New Delhi.
If confirmed, Sergio Gor would be one of the youngest US ambassadors to India. His confirmation process carries extra weight, as the envoy’s post in New Delhi has remained vacant since January 2025.