'Modi is Trump's great, personal friend': US ambassador-designate strikes a friendly note amid tariff turmoil
US ambassador-designate Sergio Gor, who is in India on a six-day visit even as the ties between the two countries have hit a rough patch owing to the trade and tariff tensions, said on Saturday that US President Trump considers Prime Minister Narendra Modi a great and personal friend.
Gor's remarks come after his meeting with the prime minister, during which the two reportedly discussed bilateral issues, including defence, trade, and technology.
Gor called the meeting with PM Modi "incredible" and said the US values its relationship with India.
We also discussed the importance of critical minerals amid the trade tensions between the US and China. Trump announced on Friday that he was placing an additional 100 per cent tax on Chinese imports in retaliation for the export controls placed on rare earth elements by China.
"Glad to receive Mr. Sergio Gor, Ambassador-designate of the US to India. I’m confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India–US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership," Modi said in a tweet.
Earlier, the US embassy in India had said Gor will be meeting with his government counterparts to discuss opportunities to further deepen the "ambitious strategic partnership and promote a safer, stronger, and more prosperous relationship."
Gor has already met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
Jaishankar said he discussed with Gor the India-US relationship and its global significance, while external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Misri and Gor had a "productive exchange on the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and its shared priorities."
Gor, whose appointment to India was confirmed by the US Senate a few days ago, will have a testing time ahead as his appointment comes at a time when the relationship between the two countries has been impacted by Trump tariffs, which India dubbed "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".
India and the US recently resumed negotiations for the trade deal after a brief hiatus of a few weeks.
India