NEW DELHI | June 30, 2026
Trump PM Modi Friendship Strengthens India-US Strategic Partnership, Says US Ambassador Sergio Gor
Trump PM Modi Friendship remains one of the strongest foundations of the expanding India-US strategic partnership, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who said President Donald Trump considers Prime Minister Narendra Modi a personal friend and is fully committed to deepening ties with India across trade, defense, technology, and investment.
Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit in New Delhi, Ambassador Gor highlighted the close personal rapport between the two leaders, describing it as an important factor behind the growing cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies.
The ambassador said President Trump has deep respect for India and continues to hold positive memories of his previous visits to the country. He added that the White House remains committed to expanding cooperation in every major area of the bilateral relationship.
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Trump Holds India in High Regard, Says Ambassador
Addressing business leaders and policymakers, Gor said President Trump places significant importance on the relationship with India and frequently recalls his experiences in the country.
According to the ambassador, he recently spent nearly two hours with President Trump in Washington, D.C., where the President expressed satisfaction with the progress being made in India-US relations.
Gor said Trump continues to speak fondly about his previous visit to India, describing it as one of the most memorable international trips of his presidency. The ambassador added that the President “loves India” and remains enthusiastic about strengthening engagement with New Delhi.
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Trump Expected to Visit India During Second Term
Ambassador Gor also expressed hope that President Trump will return to India during his second term in office.
While he did not announce a specific timeline, he said he expects the President to visit India at an appropriate stage during his current administration, underscoring the importance Washington attaches to the bilateral partnership.
A future presidential visit would likely build upon the momentum created by ongoing cooperation in trade, investment, defense, technology, and regional security.
Ambassador Shares Personal Anecdote About Trump and Modi
To illustrate the personal relationship between the two leaders, Gor recounted an interaction with President Trump during a recent Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in Miami.
According to the ambassador, while they were backstage, President Trump suggested calling Prime Minister Modi immediately.
Gor recalled reminding the President that it was approximately 6:00 a.m. in India. Trump reportedly responded by saying that the Prime Minister would already be awake because “he’s like me.”
Although the phone conversation was ultimately scheduled for the following day, Gor said the episode demonstrated the warmth and familiarity that characterize the relationship between the two leaders.
He added that President Trump genuinely considers Prime Minister Modi a friend.
Personal Rapport Supports Broader Strategic Cooperation
The ambassador emphasized that the close relationship between Trump and Modi dates back to President Trump’s first term in office and has contributed significantly to expanding the broader strategic partnership between India and the United States.
He said both governments remain focused on delivering concrete outcomes in several priority sectors, including:
- Trade and investment
- Defense cooperation
- Advanced technology
- Artificial intelligence
- Critical and emerging technologies
- Regional security
- Innovation and digital infrastructure
According to Gor, the strong political relationship at the leadership level has helped accelerate cooperation across government agencies and the private sector.
Next Two Years Will Shape Decades of Cooperation
Looking ahead, Ambassador Gor described the coming two years as a defining period for India-US relations.
He said decisions taken during this period will influence bilateral cooperation for decades to come.
The ambassador encouraged government officials, business leaders, and investors to view the partnership as a long-term strategic project rather than a short-term diplomatic initiative.
He said the foundations currently being built would support economic growth, technological innovation, and security cooperation well into the future.
US Rejects Claims That Bilateral Ties Are Weakening
Responding to speculation that India-US relations may be facing challenges, Gor firmly rejected those claims.
He argued that the overall partnership remains strong across multiple sectors despite occasional policy differences.
According to the ambassador, cooperation continues to expand in trade, defense, people-to-people exchanges, education, investment, and technology.
He said anyone examining the broader relationship would see that the partnership continues to grow rather than weaken.
Expanding Cooperation Across Every Major Sector
Gor highlighted the tremendous opportunities available for deeper collaboration between India and the United States.
Reflecting on his first six months in India, he said he has witnessed enormous potential across nearly every area of cooperation.
According to him, new opportunities for joint initiatives emerge almost daily.
He specifically identified several sectors with significant growth potential, including:
Artificial Intelligence
Both governments continue to prioritize cooperation in AI research, innovation, and responsible development while encouraging collaboration between academic institutions and private industry.
Technology
India and the United States are expanding partnerships in digital technologies, cybersecurity, advanced computing, telecommunications, and next-generation manufacturing.
Defense
Defense cooperation continues to deepen through joint military exercises, technology transfers, defense manufacturing partnerships, and enhanced interoperability between the armed forces.
Investment
Growing private-sector investment remains a key pillar of the bilateral relationship, supported by expanding business confidence and policy engagement.
Historic Events Highlight Longstanding Partnership
The ambassador noted that the close working relationship between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi has evolved over several years.
The partnership gained international attention during two landmark public events:
- “Howdy Modi” in Houston in 2019, where President Trump joined Prime Minister Modi before thousands of Indian Americans.
- “Namaste Trump” in Ahmedabad in 2020, which welcomed President Trump during his official visit to India and showcased the strength of bilateral ties.
These high-profile engagements became symbols of the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.
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India-US Partnership Continues to Expand
Beyond leadership-level engagement, India and the United States continue to strengthen cooperation across defense, trade, clean energy, semiconductor manufacturing, supply chain resilience, critical minerals, emerging technologies, and Indo-Pacific security.
Officials from both governments have repeatedly described the bilateral relationship as one of the most consequential strategic partnerships of the 21st century.
As negotiations continue on a bilateral trade agreement and collaboration expands across multiple sectors, both nations are positioning themselves for deeper economic and strategic integration.
Outlook
Ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks reinforce Washington’s message that the relationship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains an important driver of broader India-US cooperation. With expanding engagement in trade, defense, artificial intelligence, investment, and advanced technology, officials from both countries continue to project confidence that the partnership will reach new heights in the years ahead.
The combination of sustained diplomatic engagement, growing economic ties, and strong leadership-level communication is expected to play a central role in shaping the next phase of the India-US strategic relationship.
