August 24, 2025

In a surprising move, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that his close aide, 38-year-old Sergio Gor, will be the new U.S. Ambassador to India. This news brought some relief to those hoping for better India-U.S. relations, especially around tricky trade issues. But there’s a twist — Mr. Gor is also given the special job of Special Envoy on South and Central Asian Affairs. This second role raised concerns in New Delhi because it might mean the U.S. will keep trying to play peace-maker between India and Pakistan. India’s Ministry of External Affairs stayed quiet as Mr. Gor still needs to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Unlike the last ambassador Eric Garcetti, who got delayed for two years, experts say Mr. Gor’s approval should be quick and smooth, likely in less than 90 days. Mukesh Aghi, head of the U.S. India Strategic Partnership Forum, was positive: "The fact that there is a nominee, and that it is someone like Sergio Gor is positive news." He said having a direct line to President Trump is huge because the usual channels often slow things down. Mr. Aghi also hopes that the August 27 deadline for punishing India with extra tariffs on Russian oil might get delayed until Mr. Gor starts work. But not everyone is fully happy. Former Foreign Secretary Nirupama Menon Rao pointed out, "He (Gor) is a long-time Trump aide, with no apparent background in India or South Asia. His main qualification appears to be loyalty to Trump." Another expert, U.S.-based author Meenakshi Ahamed, noted that unlike previous ambassadors who were scholars or politicians, Mr. Gor's claim to fame is his closeness to Trump. Still, she said his direct access to the President could be India’s best hope now. The biggest worry for India comes from Mr. Gor’s new title as Special Envoy for South and Central Asia. India has always said no to any U.S. interference in its ties with Pakistan and Afghanistan. Ms. Rao said that this post "would risk re-linking India to U.S. policy on Pakistan and Afghanistan — something India has resisted for decades." Some compared this to when President Obama wanted to send Richard Holbrooke as Special Envoy for the whole region but changed plans after India strongly protested. Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal also said that giving Mr. Gor two powerful jobs could confuse relationships and weaken focus on India’s growing importance in the Indo-Pacific region. On social media, Mr. Trump called Mr. Gor a “great friend” and said, “For the most populous Region in the World, it is important that I have someone I can fully trust to deliver on my Agenda and help us, Make America Great Again (MAGA).” Who is Sergio Gor? Born Sergey Gorokhovsky in 1986 in Tashkent, then part of the Soviet Union, he moved to the U.S. through Malta in the 1990s. Mr. Gor is a strong conservative who led a right-wing student group in college. He worked with Republican Senator Rand Paul before joining Trump’s 2020 campaign as chief of staff for fundraising. After Trump lost the 2020 election, Mr. Gor helped start a publishing company with Donald Trump Jr. and is active in the 2024 campaign. With Mr. Gor soon taking charge, India watches closely. Will his close tie to Trump smooth out bumpy India-U.S. relations, or will his broad South Asia role reopen old conflicts? Only time will tell!

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Tags: Sergio gor, Us ambassador to india, India-us relations, Trump administration, South asia, India-pakistan,