US ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor is set to visit the country and engage with Indian government officials, the US State Department announced on Friday. His visit, coming just days after his confirmation by the US Senate, takes place amid ongoing bilateral tensions between the two countries over tariffs and increased H-1B visa fees. “U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas will travel to India from October 9 to October 14. Ambassador Gor and Deputy Secretary Rigas will meet with Indian government counterparts to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues,” the US State Department said. “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,” it said. This followed a phone call between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on Thursday night, when Modi said that he spoke to his “friend” Trump and congratulated him on the “success of the historic Gaza peace plan”. Pointing to their second conversation in less than a month, Modi also said in a post on X that they reviewed the “good progress” achieved in bilateral trade negotiations. Modi’s call with Trump was the second conversation between the two leaders since September 16, when the Prime Minister received a call from the US President on the eve of his 75th birthday. The warming of ties began on September 6, when they exchanged messages on social media platforms, and again on September 10. Indicating a new urgency to engage at the highest level, the Prime Minister took to X twice on Thursday in posts referring to Gaza and Trump—totalling four such posts since September 30. First, he welcomed the Gaza plan, which marked the first phase of Trump's plan to end the war. Then, he posted to convey that he had called Trump. The US Senate had earlier this week confirmed Gor’s appointment as the next US ambassador to India, and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Gor, 38, was among 107 nominees confirmed by the Senate in a single en bloc vote Wednesday with 51 senators voting in favour and 47 against.
