Trump aide Gor appointed US envoy to India

The US has appointed Sergio Gor as the new Ambassador to India, a move that comes amid recent tensions following the imposition of punitive tariffs on India by President Donald Trump.

A trusted aide of Trump, Gor will fill a vacancy in New Delhi that has existed since January, when former Ambassador Eric Garcetti was recalled after the new administration took office.

Trump, in a post on Truth Social, said, “I am pleased to announce that I am promoting Sergio Gor to be our next United States Ambassador to India.” He said the importance of having someone he can “fully trust to deliver on my agenda” in the world’s most populous region, adding that Gor will help “make America great again.”

Gor will also serve as Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs, significantly expanding his responsibilities.

Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal raised concerns about this dual role. In a post on X, he said, “It is the first time a US ambassador to India will hold the special envoy portfolio for the broader region.”

“This effectively means Gor will be supervising India’s relationships with Asian nations, including with Pakistan and other neighbours. He will also be consulting and coordinating with other US ambassadors in the region. This is a new form of hyphenating India and Pakistan again, among other things.” Sibal recalled that India had protested a similar situation in 2009 when Richard Holbrook was appointed special envoy for India and Pakistan, calling Gor’s appointment “a version of Holbrook’s mandate which we rejected.”

Meanwhile, Trump referred to Gor as a “great friend” who has been by his side for many years, working on his presidential campaigns and publishing his bestselling books. The president also highlighted Gor’s current role as Director of Presidential Personnel, in which he has hired nearly 4,000 “America First patriots” across the federal government. Gor will remain in his current position at the White House until he is confirmed as ambassador.