Trump, Modi are ‘real friends’, says US ambassador Gor as India-US gear up for January 13 trade talks

The India-US relationship is rooted in genuine friendship, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Monday, as he assumed charge in New Delhi and signaled continuity in trade discussions between the two countries.

“Real friends can disagree, but resolve the difference,” Gor said, framing ongoing trade negotiations as part of a broader, resilient partnership built on trust between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.


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Speaking shortly after taking office, Gor confirmed that India and the United States continue to “actively engage” on trade issues, with the next round of talks expected as early as January 13. He emphasised that both sides remain in regular contact despite differences over tariffs and market access.

In a significant announcement, Gor said India will be invited to join the US-led PaxSilica group of nations as a full member next month, a move highlighting the country’s growing role in global technology and innovation ecosystems.

“I am pleased to announce that India will be invited to join PaxSilica as a full member next month,” he said. Elaborating, he explained, “I also want to share with you today a new initiative that the United States launched just last month called PaxSilica. PaxSilica is a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain from critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI development, and logistics.”

Gor added that the initiative is designed to foster cooperation among participating nations across the entire silicon value chain, from raw materials to advanced technologies and logistics. “Nations that joined last month include Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and Israel,” he noted, adding that India’s inclusion would further strengthen the group.

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According to the ambassador, PaxSilica has already partnered with Australia, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and Israel, with a formal declaration signed at the PaxSilica Summit in Washington, DC. The initiative aims to secure a resilient and innovation-driven silicon supply chain, encompassing critical minerals, energy inputs, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and logistics.

A statement from the US Department of State outlined PaxSilica’s broader goals: reducing coercive dependencies, protecting materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence, and enabling partner nations to develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.

“PaxSilica is a positive-sum partnership. It is not about isolating others -- but about coordinating with partners who want to remain competitive and prosperous,” said an Office of the Spokesperson of the US State Department.

In his brief public address before entering his office, Gor also thanked President Trump and outlined his mission in India: strengthening ties between what he described as the world’s oldest and largest democracies. “Trump has conveyed his best wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Their relationship is genuine,” he added.

Markets responded positively to the India-US trade call buzz, with the Sensex erasing a 700-point loss to turn positive during Monday’s session.