WASHINGTON: On Tuesday, the US President Donald Trump nominated top White House Official Sergio Gor as a new US Ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs. However, the appointment requires Senate confirmation. Gor’s nomination may turn down India’s position: Gor has strong ties with Trump. He serves as Trump’s director …
Trump Appointed New US Ambassador to India
WASHINGTON: On Tuesday, the US President Donald Trump nominated top White House Official Sergio Gor as a new US Ambassador to India and special envoy for South and Central Asian affairs. However, the appointment requires Senate confirmation.
Gor’s nomination may turn down India’s position:
Gor has strong ties with Trump. He serves as Trump’s director of presidential personnel. He is a long-term friend of Trump who has always stood by Trump in presidential campaigns. In addition, he is also running a major super PAC.
Gor has no diplomatic experience. Thus, Trump highlighted Gor’s loyalty and administrative work. Trump noted that “he hired nearly 4,000 America First Patriots across every Department of our Federal Government.”
Trump’s nomination to appoint a single person to two different positions is unusual. Analysts show that the change in the US policy reduces India’s special status to the US. Though it puts India along with other South Asian countries.
Gor belonged to Uzbekistan. Later, he moved to the United States and became a close and loyal friend to Trump and Donald Trump Jr. Gor’s dual role raised questions about the US diplomatic focus in the Central and South Asian countries.
In case if India becomes the regional hub for Central and South Asian affairs, then it will affect regional politics. His appointment will be significant for US-India trade. When Gor looks at other countries, it would not be possible for the US to give special attention to the Indian trade issues.
However, the Trump administration may view trade matters in a regional context, linking tariffs, sanctions, or export controls to broader strategic concerns. The recent US tariff on Indian goods shows the aggressiveness of the US in imposing its trade policies on India.
The step is taken as India has continued its purchase of Russian oil despite the US’s disapproval. India may have a tough time while talking about the trade deals with the US. Negotiations over future trade agreements may become more transactional and slower, as India now shares Gor’s attention with other regional priorities.
