Washington:
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed India’s status as one of the United States’ most significant global partnerships, emphasizing its central role in shaping the future geopolitical landscape. His remarks came during the Senate confirmation hearing for Sergio Gor, President Donald Trump’s nominee for US Ambassador to India.
Introducing Gor at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio highlighted the evolving and critical nature of India-US relations. He stated, “Sergio Gor is the nominee to India, which is one of the top relationships that the US has in the world today, in terms of the future of what the world’s going to look like. In the 21st century, the story is going to be written in the Indo-Pacific. It’s so important that we have changed the name of the combatant command in the Indo-Pacific. India is at the core of that.”
Rubio described the current phase of India-US relations as a “period of extraordinary transition,” acknowledging the complexities and challenges both nations face. He noted, “We’ve got some really important issues coming up that we need to work with them on and work through that implicates what’s happening from Ukraine, but also implicates what’s happening in the region.”
These discussions occur against the backdrop of recent trade tensions, particularly following President Trump’s imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian imports, citing India’s purchase of Russian oil. Despite these challenges, Rubio’s comments underscore the strategic importance of the India-US partnership in addressing global issues.
Rubio further emphasized the significance of appointing an ambassador to India who possesses the President’s confidence and can effectively navigate these complex issues. He described Gor as someone “very, very close to the President” and capable of “getting things done both in the administration and through the Oval Office.”
As trade negotiations between the two nations are set to resume next week, the developments signal a potential thaw in relations, with both sides aiming to address outstanding issues and strengthen their bilateral ties.
