US envoy pick Sergio Gor says Trump–Modi friendship key as ‘we’re not that far apart on a deal’

At the hearing, Gor noted that negotiations on a trade deal were progressing and that “we are not that far apart right now.”

“We’re not that far apart on a deal already on these tariffs… Getting India to stop buying Russian oil is a top priority for this administration. I think the time will arrive upon us in the next few weeks, the next few months, for all of this to get resolved,” 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.”

Trump, he added, had invited Indian ministers to Washington for talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer next week. “Part of that will include, hopefully, a deal. They’re negotiating the nitty-gritty,” he said.

He mentioned Trump’s “deep friendship” with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling it a unique factor in bilateral ties.

“In fact, if you have noticed, when he has gone after other nations, he tends to go after their leaders for putting us in that position, and for the US imposing those tariffs. When the President has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to compliment PM Modi. They have an incredible relationship,” he said.

If confirmed, Gor said he would work to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 under Trump’s “Mission 500.” He pledged to increase American energy exports to India and encourage Indian investment in US manufacturing.

On security, Gor promised to deepen defence ties by expanding joint exercises, advancing co-production of defence systems and pushing forward key sales. “These efforts will enhance collaboration between our forces while supporting American defence manufacturers,” he said.

He also vowed to strengthen cooperation in critical technologies such as AI, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and critical minerals. “India is a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond,” he said, adding that US-India collaboration would be key to countering China’s expansionism.

“Frankly, they (India) are concerned by Chinese expansionism, and Chinese expansionism is not just on the border of India, it’s all over the area,” he said, adding that if confirmed, making India a closer US ally and “pulled into our side and away from them (China)” would be his top priority.

On India’s oil imports from Russia, Gor echoed Trump’s stance: “They must stop buying Russian oil.”

Gor concluded that the US-India partnership “will define the 21st century,” citing India’s geographic position, economic growth and military capacity as vital for regional stability.

(With Inputs from PTI)