India-US ties stronger than critics claim, says US Ambassador Gor
Washington, June 30
The India-US relationship remains on a strong footing despite public speculation to the contrary, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said, citing expanding cooperation in trade, defence, technology and people-to-people ties.
Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit, Gor rejected suggestions that bilateral ties had weakened, saying the facts pointed in the opposite direction.
"So to all those pundits that sit online and tweet and say, this relationship is in trouble, when you look at the facts of where this relationship stands, whether it's trade, whether it's defense, whether it's the people to people ties, the relationship is on strong footing," Gor said.
He said both governments remained committed to expanding cooperation across virtually every major sector.
"In the six months that I've been in India, I've seen the incredible potential. And that incredible potential is in every sector. There's not a day that goes by that a new item pops up for our two countries to work together."
"You name the sector and the United States and India can work together and take it to an incredible height."
"So whether that's AI, technology, defense, it's unlimited potential as I like to call it."
Gor said President Donald Trump attached great importance to the bilateral relationship and continued to view India as a key strategic partner.
"The United States wants to work hand in hand with India. We care about this relationship. We have a president who deeply cares about this relationship."
"I was just with him before the weekend started here in DC... He has very fond memories of India. His visit last time, it was one of his most remarkable visits that he continues to talk about."
The ambassador said India had become one of the United States' most trusted partners, pointing to its inclusion among the first countries invited to join the PAXSilica iniative.
"When India was also invited and joined among the first 10 nations in PAXSilica... PAXSilicacomes down to one thing, and that is trust."
"The United States didn't just invite every single country in the world to join PAX Silicon. We're inviting individuals that we trust that we can work with and that continue working with us in the future."
He also highlighted the growing economic relationship, noting that bilateral trade had increased dramatically over the past two decades.
"Over the past two decades, our bilateral trade has increased from 20 billion to 220 billion."
"What President Trump and Prime Minister Modi announced as a bilateral trade goal of $500 billion over the next few years, that's an astounding number that is unmatched."
On defence cooperation, Gor said India conducted more military exercises with the United States than any other country.
"India still has more exercises with the United States than any other country by far."
"Every single month there's something happening, whether it's Indian troops coming here, whether it's US troops going into the region."
Gor said the next two years would be critical in shaping the future trajectory of the partnership.
"These next two years will set the relationship on a path for several decades ahead."
"So for everyone here who participates in this, think of this as a long-term project. This is not a one year or two year, but what we sow now will continue to sustain us decades ahead."
The ambassador also said the US Embassy in New Delhi was focused on producing tangible outcomes rather than simply holding meetings, adding that his team worked closely with businesses from both countries to help advance commercial opportunities and investments.
India and the United States have steadily broadened their strategic partnership over the past two decades, expanding cooperation beyond defence and diplomacy into critical and emerging technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, energy, clean technology and resilient supply chains. The relationship is also underpinned by a vibrant Indian diaspora in the United States and growing business-to-business engagement.
In recent years, both governments have described the partnership as one of the defining strategic relationships of the 21st century. Alongside increasing defence interoperability and technology collaboration, Washington and New Delhi are also pursuing a bilateral trade target of $500 billion while deepening coordination across the Indo-Pacific through initiatives such as the Quad.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Fair enough but let's not get carried away. The $500 billion trade target sounds ambitious — almost too ambitious. We need to see actual implementation. Also, US tariff policies have been problematic for Indian exporters. Hope this "trust" translates into fair trade deals, not just one-sided benefits for American companies.
As someone who works in tech collaboration between our countries, I can confirm the Ambassador is right. The potential in AI and semiconductors is absolutely incredible. Indian engineers and American innovation — it's a powerhouse combination. The next two years will definitely set the trajectory for decades. Good to hear this from the top.
But what about the H1B visa issues? 😤 So many talented Indians are struggling with visa delays and uncertainty. People-to-people ties can't just be about business meetings — it's about students, professionals, families. If the relationship is so strong, why is getting a US visa still such a headache? Talk is cheap.
The PAXSilica thing is interesting — trust is indeed the foundation. India being among first 10 invited shows we're seen as a reliable partner. But we must also remember to keep our strategic autonomy. Good relations with US shouldn't come at cost of our ties with Russia, China or Europe. Balance is key.
Honestly refreshing to hear an American diplomat talking this positively about India. Usually it's all about differences. The defense cooperation point is underrated — India and US doing more exercises than with any other country means real interoperability. That matters for Indo-Pacific stability. Good news.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.