MUMBAI: Sergio Gor, the newly appointed United States Ambassador to India, began his first official visit to Mumbai on Friday, stopping at the US Consulate in the city to meet staff and highlight ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Sharing updates on social media platform X, Gor wrote, “Excited to kick off my first visit to Mumbai with a visit to our Consulate! Our dedicated team working hard to bolster the US-India partnership.”

This visit comes shortly after Gor presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 14, marking the formal start of his tenure in India. In his post-credential ceremony statement, Gor expressed gratitude for his appointment and emphasized the importance of advancing priorities in security, trade, energy, technology, and critical minerals.

Emphasis on Strategic Partnership

At the US Embassy in New Delhi, where he took the oath of office, Ambassador Gor underlined the strength of the US-India relationship, noting the personal rapport between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“I have travelled all over the world with President Trump, and I can attest that his friendship with Prime Minister Modi is real. The United States and India are bound not just by shared interests but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences in the end,” Gor said.

He added that he aims to elevate the partnership between the two democracies, referring to the US as the world’s oldest democracy and India as the world’s largest democracy. Gor also indicated hopes for a future visit by President Trump to India within the next year or two.

Focus Areas for Engagement

During his remarks and social media posts, Gor emphasized several key areas of collaboration:

• Defense and security cooperation
• Trade and investment partnerships
• Technology and innovation collaboration
• Critical minerals and supply chain resilience

He underscored that the visit to Mumbai is part of a broader effort to engage with stakeholders beyond the capital, reflecting the US commitment to a multi-faceted partnership with India.

Background and Career

Before assuming his role as Ambassador, Gor served as Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel at the White House. He is a prominent American businessman and political operative with extensive experience across government communications and outreach. His previous roles include:

• Communications Director for Randy Forbes for Congress
• Press Secretary for the Office of Representative Michele Bachmann
• Director of Outreach for Americans for Limited Government
• Analyst for the Republican National Committee

Gor graduated from The George Washington University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Affairs, combining academic expertise with years of experience in political operations and international diplomacy.

Formal Recognition

The Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed that, alongside Gor, the President received credentials from other foreign envoys, including Mr. Chandradath Singh of Trinidad and Tobago and Dr. Robert Zischg of Austria.

Ambassador Gor’s visit to Mumbai marks the first step in what is expected to be an active tenure focusing on deepening US-India ties, both at the central level and across India’s major commercial hubs.