Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be one of President Donald Trump’s highest-priority leaders at the upcoming G20 Summit in Florida, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. His comments point to the possibility of a meeting between the two leaders alongside the main multilateral gathering.
Speaking about the December summit, Gor said Trump considers Modi a friend and suggested that their engagement could extend beyond the formal G20 discussions. While he stopped short of confirming a bilateral meeting, his remarks indicated that direct talks between the two leaders could take place on the sidelines of the event.
Gor also offered an update on negotiations surrounding the India-US trade agreement. He said the two countries are close to reaching a final arrangement, although the deal is being revised following a recent US Supreme Court decision. The ambassador expressed hope that the agreement could be completed within the next few months.
Addressing concerns over the length of the negotiations, Gor argued that India and the United States have moved faster than several other major trading partners. He compared the process with the European Union’s much longer negotiations with the US, emphasizing that the India-US discussions have made considerable progress.
The ambassador also praised Modi’s leadership, saying stability in India has helped make the country an important and attractive partner for Washington. He stressed that the United States has an interest in seeing India remain stable and economically successful.
Gor further indicated that increased high-level engagement between the two countries should be expected. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to return to India in October, following his earlier visit in May for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Gor described two visits by a secretary of state within a relatively short period as unusual and said India should expect more such engagement.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar could also make several trips to the United States over the coming months, including for meetings connected with the United Nations and G20.
The ambassador emphasized the importance of the Quad, which brings together India, the United States, Japan and Australia. A ministerial meeting is planned in Sydney in October, while the four countries are also exploring a leaders’ summit later in the year.
The developments come as New Delhi and Washington work to rebuild momentum in their relationship following recent disagreements over tariffs and US claims regarding India-Pakistan ceasefire diplomacy.
