Overview
- Sergio Gor said he had an "incredible" meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussing defence, trade, technology and the importance of critical minerals.
- On a six-day familiarisation trip with Deputy Secretary Michael J. Rigas, Gor also met S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and NSA Ajit Doval, and he will not present credentials during this visit.
- Bilateral trade negotiations have restarted after a brief pause, following recent Modi–Trump phone calls and a visit to Delhi by USTR assistant trade representative Brendan Lynch.
- US duties on key Indian exports now reach 50%, including a 25% levy linked to purchases of Russian crude, a move India labels unfair and which remains in effect.
- Gor, a close Trump confidant who will also serve as Special Envoy for South and Central Asia, underscored leader-to-leader rapport by gifting Modi a Trump-signed photo, while any potential Modi–Trump meeting later this month is described as contingent on progress in talks.