Washington, June 27
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership style and said the close personal relationship between PM Modi and President Donald Trump remains the cornerstone of India-US ties, describing the two leaders as results-driven and saying they "think alike".
In an exclusive interview with IANS at the White House, Gor dismissed suggestions of strains in bilateral relations and said the friendship between the two leaders had remained strong over the years.
"I think we're in a great place," Gor said when asked about the current state of India-US relations.
"One of the big anchors to that relationship is the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister that has always remained strong."
"The President and Prime Minister are great friends, and that's something that goes back years ago, and it's something that will continue to go years ahead."
Gor said regular engagement between the two leaders had helped keep the relationship on a positive trajectory.
"My goal has been, since arriving there, to ensure that the two sides are regularly speaking and moving the ball forward, and we're able to identify these win-win situations for both of our countries," he said.
Recalling the recent meeting between Trump and PM Modi in France, Gor said he was present during the discussions, which covered trade, defence and other bilateral issues.
"We had a fantastic meeting. It was very warm, over an hour together," he said.
"They covered a lot of aspects, including, of course, trade, and some defence issues. It was a very productive meeting."
Gor said the relationship between the two leaders was built on shared leadership styles and a common focus on delivering results.
"He is incredibly dynamic. He's incredibly hands-on, and he's results-driven," Gor said of PM Modi.
"In a way, I see a lot of similarities between him and President Trump, because they both love being hands-on and getting things done and accomplishing things fast."
"The Prime Minister wants something done, he moves on it. The President is the same way."
"I think that's one of the core anchors of their relationship, is they think alike. They want to deliver."
Asked about Trump's broader view of India, Gor said the President continued to hold both PM Modi and India in high regard.
"The President's very warm on India," he said.
"Our relationship with India is very deep. It goes back a long time."
"He's always talked about the Prime Minister being a great friend of his personally."
Gor added that Trump still spoke about his first visit to India and remained impressed by the country's energy and people.
"He reminds me of his first trip to India and the vibrancy that he saw there. It's something that he's never forgotten."
The Ambassador also indicated that Trump remained keen to visit India after receiving an invitation from PM Modi.
"I just left the President (after meeting him in the Oval Office of the White House)," Gor said. "One of the things the President asked about is, 'So when am I coming?' He's very keen to come. The Prime Minister invited him."
The personal rapport between PM Modi and Trump has been a defining feature of India-US relations during both leaders' time in office.
Their meetings have often focused on expanding cooperation in trade, defence, technology and the Indo-Pacific, while also strengthening people-to-people ties between the world's two largest democracies.
Both countries continue to deepen cooperation across economic, security and technological sectors while maintaining regular engagement at the highest political levels.
