United States ambassador to India, Sergio Gor will be visiting New Delhi this week for bilateral talks as the two countries world to strengthen their relationship. Gor and US eputy Secretary Michael J Rigas will kick-starting a six-day visit to India this week.
Making the official announcement, the US State Department, “US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J Rigas will travel to India from October 9 to 14.”
The department further said that Ambassador Gor and Deputy Secretary Rigas will meet with Indian government counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues. “The United States will continue to work with India to strengthen our strategic partnership and promote a safer, stronger, and more prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” the statement further read.
India-US ties in Trump 2.0
The relationship between India and US hit a roadblock when President Donald Trump levied 50% tariffs on Indian imports, among the highest. The initial 25% was the regular that he wished to impose on other countries as well according to the requirements if the US, and the other 25% as penalty for buying Russian oil.
Several top US cabinet members continued attacking India for a regular purchase of Russian oil, as well as for not allowing America to enter its dairy and other crucial markets.
US Treasure Secretary Scott Bessent once targeted both India and China for being the biggest purchasers of Russian oil amid the war in Ukraine. In a new interview with Fox News, he suggested that while both countries have emerged as major contributors fuelling “Russia’s war machine,” the focus is soon going to switch over from Russian oil to US oil.
However, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s repeated pitch for ‘Make in India’ and ‘self reliance’. He made it clear that India will not compromise on the needs and requirements of its farmers.
What about India-US trade deal?
The Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) summit meeting in China was a turnaround where PM Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, the first meet up since after Trump pushed the two Asian neighbours against buying Russian oil.
Trump toned down and called PM Modi his dear friend and India a key “strategic ally”. Since then, the India-US trade deal has again progressed with senior US officials meeting Indian stakeholders in Delhi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Thursday reviewed the “good progress” achieved in the negotiations for their trade agreement and agreed to remain in touch in the coming weeks.
In a telephonic conversation, Modi, describing Trump as a friend, also congratulated him on the success of the “historic Gaza peace plan”. “Spoke to my friend, President Trump and congratulated him on the success of the historic Gaza peace plan. Also reviewed the good progress achieved in trade negotiations. Agreed to stay in touch over the coming weeks,” Modi said in a post on X.