US envoy pick hints possible Trump's India trip for QUAD Summit, next round of trade talks lined up

Sergio Gor, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next US ambassador to India, said Thursday that the president remains committed to the QUAD security dialogue, hinting that he may travel to New Delhi later this year for a leaders’ summit.

India is slated to host the QUAD Leaders Summit in 2025, though a date has not yet been finalised.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Trump to attend the meeting during his February visit to Washington.

A recent New York Times report suggested Trump was not planning to visit India for QUAD Summit amid heightened tensions over tariffs.

“The QUAD is vitally important,” Gor told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee during his confirmation hearing. “The president is committed to continual engagement with the Quad. There have already been talks about a trip for the next QUAD meeting.”

The last summit was hosted by then-President Joe Biden in September 2024 after India deferred its turn to host, citing Biden’s decision to remain in the US during the election season.

Gor, 38, a political strategist and longtime Trump ally, would be the youngest US envoy to India if confirmed.

He described New Delhi as “a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond,” and said Trump has invited India’s commerce and trade ministers to Washington next week to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

He predicted the two sides could resolve outstanding trade issues “in the next few weeks.”

He pointed out that even when Trump has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to compliment Modi.

Introducing Gor, Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the India post “one of the top relationships the US has in the world today.”

He said the Indo-Pacific is “where the story of the 21st century will be written” and stressed the importance of having a representative in New Delhi with direct access to the president.

In recent days, Trump and Modi have exchanged warm public messages, signalling intent to ease tensions.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that Washington and New Delhi were “continuing negotiations to address the trade barriers between our two Nations,” calling Modi a “very good friend.” Modi responded on X, describing the US and India as “close friends and natural partners” and said he looked forward to their next conversation.

The public display of goodwill followed weeks of strain in bilateral ties over tariffs and India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil.