Sergio Gor has not yet presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu
India will be invited to join the U.S.’ 8-nation Pax Silica “Silicon supply chain” next month, announced incoming U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor , promising that the two countries hoped to also make progress on long-delayed trade negotiations soon. Mr. Gor, who is yet to present his credentials to President Draupadi Murmu drew a positive outlook for India-US ties after months of tensions over trade, tariffs, and India’s import of Russian oil.
“The United States and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by relationship anchored at the highest levels,” Mr. Gor said in an unprecedented “arrival speech” delivered with much fanfare from the steps of the U.S. Embassy on Delhi’s Shantipath on Monday (January 12, 2026). “Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end,” he added. He said that the two sides “continue to actively engage” over the trade deal that had been initially launched nearly a year ago when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Washington. Subsequently, the deal lost momentum as the U.S. imposed 50% in tariffs on Indian goods, and has seen six official rounds of negotiations and three visits to the U.S. by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
“Remember, India is the world’s largest nation, so it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there,” he said in his address, also announcing the plan to induct India in the “Pax Silica” arrangement to cooperate on semi-conductors, critical minerals and Artificial Intelligence in February. India was not included in the original launch of Pax Silica in Washington in December although fellow Quad members Japan and Australia, I2U2 countries Israel and UAE, and others including South Korea, Singapore, U.K. and the Netherlands were invited.
Mr. Gor said he hoped the U.S. President would visit India “soon, hopefully in the next year or two”. Mr. Trump was expected to visit India last year to attend the Quad Summit, and India is hoping to host the summit this year.
The Ambassador’s statement, made to hundreds of U.S. Embassy staffers in Delhi and Indian media was unconventional as Mr. Gor is expected to present his credentials later this week. According to diplomatic protocol, Ambassadors are expected to make public appearances only after the credentials are presented. Mr. Gor arrived at the Embassy with his Ambassadorial convoy including a special armoured car with red and blue blinking lights. As he alighted, the Embassy officials who had gathered there more than two hours before, along with the press, greeted him with loud applause and as he walked up the steps a special playlist of songs, reportedly chosen by Mr. Gor, that included the 1960s soul song “Hold on, I’m Coming”, and Mr. Trump’s favourite “YMCA” were played over loudspeakers. The ceremony, that included dozens of media outlets, was telecast live- a break from the past. His predecessor Biden appointee Eric Garcetti had arrived to take up his assignment in a colourful auto rickshaw in April 2023, but without the media and the large welcoming assembly.
Mr. Gor begins with his tasks cut out, given spiralling ties between Delhi and Washington, particularly over a number of statements, including Mr. Trump’s repeated claim that he mediated the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, which the government has strenuously denied. Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected a claim by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that the trade deal had fallen through as PM Modi had not called Mr. Trump to finalise it, pointing out that the two leaders had spoken eight times during the year. Mr. Gor said that India-U.S. trade negotiators would hold another call on Tuesday. In addition, the government has been uncomfortable with the U.S. President’s contention that PM Modi has promised to cut India’s imports of Russian oil “to make him happy”, stressing that any decisions are led by market conditions.
Mr. Gor, who has also been appointed as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia has taken a few months to arrive, after being named for the post in August 2024, and being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in October. Along with bilateral issues, Mr. Gor’s travels in the region, particularly to Pakistan and Bangladesh would be watched most closely in New Delhi.
Sergio Gor ‘takes charge’ as U.S. Ambassador to India, says India to be invited to Pax Silica initiative
Sergio Gor has not yet presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu
India will be invited to join the U.S.’ 8-nation Pax Silica “Silicon supply chain” next month, announced incoming U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor , promising that the two countries hoped to also make progress on long-delayed trade negotiations soon. Mr. Gor, who is yet to present his credentials to President Draupadi Murmu drew a positive outlook for India-US ties after months of tensions over trade, tariffs, and India’s import of Russian oil.
“The United States and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by relationship anchored at the highest levels,” Mr. Gor said in an unprecedented “arrival speech” delivered with much fanfare from the steps of the U.S. Embassy on Delhi’s Shantipath on Monday (January 12, 2026). “Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end,” he added. He said that the two sides “continue to actively engage” over the trade deal that had been initially launched nearly a year ago when Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited Washington. Subsequently, the deal lost momentum as the U.S. imposed 50% in tariffs on Indian goods, and has seen six official rounds of negotiations and three visits to the U.S. by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
“Remember, India is the world’s largest nation, so it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there,” he said in his address, also announcing the plan to induct India in the “Pax Silica” arrangement to cooperate on semi-conductors, critical minerals and Artificial Intelligence in February. India was not included in the original launch of Pax Silica in Washington in December although fellow Quad members Japan and Australia, I2U2 countries Israel and UAE, and others including South Korea, Singapore, U.K. and the Netherlands were invited.
Mr. Gor said he hoped the U.S. President would visit India “soon, hopefully in the next year or two”. Mr. Trump was expected to visit India last year to attend the Quad Summit, and India is hoping to host the summit this year.
The Ambassador’s statement, made to hundreds of U.S. Embassy staffers in Delhi and Indian media was unconventional as Mr. Gor is expected to present his credentials later this week. According to diplomatic protocol, Ambassadors are expected to make public appearances only after the credentials are presented. Mr. Gor arrived at the Embassy with his Ambassadorial convoy including a special armoured car with red and blue blinking lights. As he alighted, the Embassy officials who had gathered there more than two hours before, along with the press, greeted him with loud applause and as he walked up the steps a special playlist of songs, reportedly chosen by Mr. Gor, that included the 1960s soul song “Hold on, I’m Coming”, and Mr. Trump’s favourite “YMCA” were played over loudspeakers. The ceremony, that included dozens of media outlets, was telecast live- a break from the past. His predecessor Biden appointee Eric Garcetti had arrived to take up his assignment in a colourful auto rickshaw in April 2023, but without the media and the large welcoming assembly.
Mr. Gor begins with his tasks cut out, given spiralling ties between Delhi and Washington, particularly over a number of statements, including Mr. Trump’s repeated claim that he mediated the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025, which the government has strenuously denied. Last week, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected a claim by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick that the trade deal had fallen through as PM Modi had not called Mr. Trump to finalise it, pointing out that the two leaders had spoken eight times during the year. Mr. Gor said that India-U.S. trade negotiators would hold another call on Tuesday. In addition, the government has been uncomfortable with the U.S. President’s contention that PM Modi has promised to cut India’s imports of Russian oil “to make him happy”, stressing that any decisions are led by market conditions.
Mr. Gor, who has also been appointed as U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Envoy for South and Central Asia has taken a few months to arrive, after being named for the post in August 2024, and being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in October. Along with bilateral issues, Mr. Gor’s travels in the region, particularly to Pakistan and Bangladesh would be watched most closely in New Delhi.
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