US envoy-designate Sergio Gor said pulling India closer to Washington and away from Beijing will be a “top priority,” stressing energy and trade as key pillars of cooperation.
Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to India, on Thursday said Washington would make it a “top priority” to pull India closer to the US and away from China.
Addressing reporters on foreign relations, Gor emphasised that the Indo-US ties are far warmer than India’s relations with Beijing.
“We will make it a top priority that India is pulled into our side and away from them,” he said.
“In the ongoing trade talks, we want the Indian market to open for our crude oil, petroleum products, and LNG. India’s middle class is larger than the entire US,” he added.
While acknowledging “hiccups” in the partnership, he expressed confidence in long-term cooperation, citing trade and energy as key areas.
“While we (India-US) might have our moment of hiccups right now, we are on the track of resolving that.”
“Our relationship with the Indian government and the Indian people extends many more decades, and it’s a much warmer relationship than they have with the Chinese,” Gor said.
“Chinese expansionism is not just on the border with India, it’s all over the area,” he added.
#WATCH | “… We will make it a top priority that India is pulled into our side and away from China…,” says Sergio Gor, nominee as the next US Ambassador to India.
He also says, “… While we (India-US) might have our moment of hiccups right now, we are on the track of… pic.twitter.com/h5eRRqx9FR
— ANI (@ANI) September 11, 2025
Sergio Gor, nominated by Trump to be ambassador to India, also noted that India and the US are actively negotiating right now.
Referring to Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s scheduled visit to Washington, Gor said Donald Trump has invited their commerce and trade ministers next week, and they will be meeting with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer in Washington.
“Part of that will include hopeful, a hopeful deal. We are not that far apart right now on a deal. In fact, they’re negotiating the nitty-gritty of a deal,” Gor said.
“We expect more from India than we do sometimes from other nations. I do think it will get resolved over the next few weeks,” he said.
He said India’s protectionist policies and regulatory barriers have prevented Washington from fully realising its partnership with Delhi, and if confirmed, he will work to advance trade that is fair, reciprocal and beneficial to Americans.
Gor concluded by highlighting India’s importance for the global order.