Sergio Gor, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for Ambassador to India, emphasized before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Thursday that India and the United States share far deeper commonalities than India does with China. He pledged that, if confirmed, he would work to revive the “personal touch” in bilateral relations.
During the hearing, Senator Bill Hagerty observed that the India-US partnership runs much deeper than symbolic gestures. Responding, Gor said, “India shares a lot more in common with the US than it does with China, and for far too long we lacked that personal touch. Not only will I work to restore it in New Delhi, but the President himself is engaged in this effort.”
Gor noted that President Trump had recently praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s response to his outreach on bilateral ties. “Just earlier this week, the President complimented Prime Minister Modi, who responded warmly,” he said. Earlier, Trump also reposted Modi’s remarks on the “natural partnership” between the two countries.
On Wednesday, PM Modi, replying to Trump on X, reaffirmed that ongoing trade talks would “unlock the limitless potential of the India-US partnership.” Modi added that both nations would continue working closely to ensure a prosperous future for their people.
Calling India a “strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond,” Gor underscored that deeper cooperation between Washington and New Delhi is crucial to counter China’s growing influence. “India is concerned about Chinese expansionism—not just along its borders, but across the region,” he said, stressing that his priority would be to strengthen India’s role as a US ally.
Gor concluded by highlighting India’s significance in the global order, noting that the US-India partnership “will define the 21st century,” backed by India’s geography, economic growth, and military strength.