VOI World/ Desk
The India-US trade deal is “very close” to being finalised, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who also indicated that Indian PM Modi could hold a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump during the G20 Summit in Florida in December.
Speaking to India Today, Gor said PM Modi would be among Trump’s top priorities for meetings during the summit. While no Modi-Trump bilateral has been officially announced, he suggested that the Indian leader’s visit could involve more than the formal G20 proceedings.
On the proposed India-US trade deal, Gor said negotiations were being reworked following a US Supreme Court decision but maintained that both sides remained close to an agreement. He expressed hope that the deal could be finalised within the next few months.
Gor also highlighted an increasingly busy diplomatic calendar between New Delhi and Washington. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to visit India in October, while other senior US officials are also likely to travel to the country in the coming months.
The US envoy further said Washington was interested in holding a Quad leaders’ summit, possibly around the time of the G20 meeting. However, he stressed that such a summit had not yet been formally set. The Quad brings together India, the US, Japan and Australia.
His remarks come amid renewed engagement between the Quad countries. A Quad Sherpas’ meeting was held in New Delhi on September 3, with representatives discussing cooperation on security, emerging technologies, economic issues and humanitarian assistance.
The developments point to a potentially significant few months for India-US relations, with trade negotiations, high-level visits and possible Modi-Trump and Quad meetings all on the diplomatic agenda.
