Jaishankar Hosts US Ambassador-Designate Gor to Discuss Bilateral Relations
India-US ties thaw amid 50% trade war threats.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar sat down with US Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor in New Delhi on Saturday, October 11, 2025, navigating the choppy waters of strained bilateral ties strained by Washington's aggressive 50% tariffs on Indian exports. The high-stakes huddle, detailed in Jaishankar's upbeat X post, zeroed in on the "India-US relationship and its global significance," with the minister extending best wishes for Gor's impending role. Accompanied by Deputy Secretary Michael J. Rigas, Gor—a Trump loyalist fresh off Senate confirmation—is on a six-day introductory jaunt to India, marking his first official foray as the next envoy to the world's largest democracy.
Gor, who also conferred with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, sparked a "productive exchange" on the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, touching on shared priorities from Indo-Pacific security to tech collaborations. "FS wished Amb-designate Gor all success," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted on X, underscoring the diplomatic niceties amid underlying tensions. Notably, Gor won't present credentials this trip, keeping it exploratory rather than ceremonial.
The elephant in the room? Trump's tariff blitz, doubling duties to 50%—including a punitive 25% add-on for India's savvy buys of discounted Russian crude—has New Delhi fuming. India slammed the move as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," a rare public barb that chilled trade talks. Yet, glimmers of hope flicker: Recent Modi-Trump phone chats have thawed the freeze, rebooting negotiations after a weeks-long stall. With a bilateral trade deal in the works, both sides eye a reset, potentially unlocking $500 billion in two-way commerce by 2030.
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Gor, 38, isn't your typical diplomat—he's Trump's White House personnel czar, a key architect of the MAGA machine with deep ties to the inner circle. Nominated in August as ambassador and special envoy for South and Central Asia, his Senate nod this week catapults him from domestic dealmaker to global bridge-builder. "Beyond grateful to President Trump for his incredible trust," Gor gushed, vowing to champion US-India synergies against China’s shadow.
As Gor's visit unfolds, it signals Washington's intent to mend fences, but tariffs loom large. Can Jaishankar's charm offensive yield concessions, or will Trump's "America First" hammer drive a harder bargain? With QUAD summits looming and supply chains at stake, this meet isn't just protocol—it's a pivot point for Asia's power play. India-US: From friction to fusion? Gor's got his work cut out.
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