TL;DR

• <h2>Modi-Trump Friendship Fuels India-US Partnership Ahead of G20</h2><p>US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, has indicated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be at the forefront of President Donald Trump’s list of leaders to meet at the upcoming G20 Summit in December. This highlights the strong personal rapport between the two leaders and the accelerating momentum in India-US bilateral relations.</p><p>Gor, in an exclusive interview, stated that if President Trump were to choose from 35 attendees, PM Modi would be his top pick, emphasizing that the President considers the Prime Minister a friend. The ambassador anticipates that PM Modi’s visit to Florida for the summit will extend beyond the multilateral gathering, even though no specific bilateral meeting has been formally announced.</p><p>The 39-year-old envoy also hinted at the possibility of President Trump returning to India next year, noting that Trump frequently recalls his 2020 visit with great fondness. “Every single time I speak to him, he remembers very fondly the incredible visit that he had here, the incredible people he met and, of course, his dear friend, the Prime Minister,” Gor said.</p><h3>Trade Deal Nears Completion Amidst Reworking</h3><p>Regarding the proposed India-US trade agreement, Gor confirmed that negotiations are being reworked following a US Supreme Court ruling. Despite this, he expressed optimism, stating that both nations are “very close” to finalizing a deal. He hopes the agreement will be concluded within the next few months, acknowledging that negotiations of such magnitude often require time.</p><p>Bilateral trade between India and the US currently stands at approximately $240 billion, with PM Modi and President Trump setting an ambitious target to increase this to $500 billion in the coming years. Gor praised PM Modi for fostering stability in India, which he believes makes the country an attractive and reliable partner for the United States.</p><p>The US Embassy in India has played a role in securing $24 billion in new investment into the United States, while American corporations like Microsoft, Google, and pharmaceutical companies are actively expanding their operations within India, particularly in data and AI centers.</p><h3>Frequent High-Level Diplomatic Exchanges Expected</h3><p>Gor also conveyed that India should anticipate more frequent visits from senior US officials as Washington seeks to deepen its relationship with New Delhi. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is confirmed to return to India in October, a rare second visit in a short span. Plans are also underway for visits by several other US Cabinet officials and three governors from large US states before the year-end.</p><p>On the Indian side, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is expected to travel to the United States three times over the next four months, including for the United Nations and the G20. The Quad, comprising India, the US, Japan, and Australia, remains a cornerstone of cooperation, with the next ministerial meeting scheduled for Sydney, and a leaders’ summit potentially later this year.</p><blockquote>The numbers don’t lie. The relationship is on a constant rise, and it will continue to move that way for the foreseeable future.</blockquote>