If they wake up in a bad mood…: US envoy throws shade at India's neighbours

US Ambassador Sergio Gor has shown confidence about sustainable diplomatic ties with India, while throwing shade at New Delhi's neighbours, saying things can change if they simply "wake up in a bad mood". Speaking during the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit in Washington, Gor said that both countries have several commonalities that will be the key to their long-term relationship.

"India is in a tough part of the world. There are some tough and rough neighbours, and you have individuals that wake up in a bad mood and things change in that part of the world," Gor said.

The US envoy emphasised that the relationship between Washington and New Delhi is safe from short-term political cycles due to structural and mutual interests. "With that said, we do see the opportunity that exists between our two nations...You pick the sector – AI, technology, aviation – no matter what it is, we have the potential to work together," he stressed that the US wants to work hand-in-hand with India.

"These next two years will set the relationship on a path for several decades ahead. So for everyone here who participates in this, think of this as a long-term project. This is not one year or two years, but what we sow now will continue to sustain us decades ahead," Gor added.

He also dismissed the Indo-Pacific Command renaming controversy, saying the "name on the letterhead" does not matter rather one should look at what the US is actually doing. "I just want to mention something because a lot of individuals made hay over a name change. I don't care what name is on a letterhead, but look at what the United States is actually doing."

There has been a row over dropping 'Indo' from the Indo-Pacific Command. The US Pacific Command, established in 1947, is among the oldest unified commands of the US that stretches from the west coast to India's western border. During Trump's first term, the Pacific Command was renamed as Indo-Pacific Command, citing the growing importance of India in the region. Earlier this month, America restored the original name of the unified command.

"Yes, the name changed; we're still there. India still has more exercises with the United States than any other country by far. Every single month there's something happening, whether it's Indian troops coming here or whether it's US troops going into the region," the US envoy said.

On the situation of American businesses in India, Sergio Gor asserted that US corporate confidence in India has reached its peak, and that the Donald Trump-headed government has full confidence in New Delhi as a trusted and predictable strategic partner. To back his point, he highlighted US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's maiden visit last month and said that the latter was so impressed that he is already planning a return trip before the end of the year.

The US envoy also dismissed diplomatic tension between the two nations and said the trade deal is at its final stage of completion with only "1 or 2 per cent" of the legal text remaining.

India and the US have finalised the trade agreement framework, but it is yet to be officially made.

"Just last week, US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Lee Greer visited us in New Delhi for two days, and we are hopefully in the final steps of this deal. Most of this deal is complete. There are a few items that remain from both sides, but it's in the last 1 or 2 per cent of that deal," Gor said.

He further said that the US Mission in India outpaced its European counterparts by facilitating a massive $20.5 billion in brand-new investments back into American in 2026 alone. "People ask me why this is taking so long? We've been at this trade deal for a year and a half. To put it into perspective, the European trade deal took 20 years. And so, no matter what, as long as we beat the European deal, I think we're in good shape."

In January, India and the European Union signed a free trade agreement, which marked a remarkable diplomatic breakthrough following two decades of constant negotiations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the pact as the "mother of all deals".

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