President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will nominate Sergio Gor, one of his closest and most trusted aides, as the next US ambassador to India. Gor, who currently serves as the director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office, will also take on the role of special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs once confirmed by the US Senate.
Trump praised Gor in a Truth Social post, calling him “a great friend” who had played a crucial role in his historic campaigns, book publications, and the running of major political committees that backed his movement. He emphasized that Gor was someone he fully trusted to advance his agenda in one of the most populous and strategically significant regions of the world.
The announcement comes at a time of heightened tensions in US-India relations, largely fueled by Trump’s trade war. Bilateral trade, valued at more than $190 billion annually, has been strained after the collapse of talks over tariff reductions.
Trump has announced a doubling of tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50%, effective August 27, as a punitive measure against New Delhi’s increased purchases of Russian oil. The move drew criticism from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who accused India of “profiteering” from the war in Ukraine by sharply raising its reliance on Russian oil imports, now accounting for 42% of its total oil purchases compared to under 1% before the war.
Unlike India, China — the largest buyer of Russian oil — has not faced similar tariff hikes despite raising its share from 13% to 16%. India’s Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, responding to the escalating trade row, maintained that India was approaching its trade relationship with the United States with a “very open mind” while stressing the significance of bilateral ties.
Shortly before Trump’s announcement, the US abruptly canceled a planned visit by trade negotiators to New Delhi, scheduled for August 25-29, underscoring the fragile state of relations. In response to his nomination, Gor expressed gratitude on X, calling it “the honour of my life” to represent the United States in India.
