- 23 hours ago
US Ambassador Sergio Gor chose the India Today Conclave 2026 to make his first public appearance after assuming office and he didn't disappoint, sharing his views on a wide spectrum of topics, including the friendship between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi, the India-US trade deal as well as on the Iran conflict.
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00:01Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
00:03The biggest announcements often happen with India today.
00:08After all, we like to believe we are not just covering the voice of India, we are the voice of
00:14India.
00:15And this morning is a special moment for that reason.
00:19Because today marks Ambassador Sergio Gorr's first public appearance after assuming office as the United States Ambassador to India.
00:34And we are delighted that he chose to do it here with India Today.
00:39Now, moments like this also remind us how far the reach of Indian journalism can go.
00:46When President Trump announced the U.S.-India trade deal, he posted an India Today cover to mark the moment.
00:54So it feels rather fitting that today's conversation about the future of this relationship is happening on this stage.
01:04It's my privilege to introduce a diplomat with a particularly interesting mandate.
01:09And importantly, a very direct line to Washington.
01:13In diplomacy, job titles can sometimes be a little long.
01:18But when someone's title includes Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, you know the brief
01:27is serious.
01:28And the passport will probably run out of pages very quickly.
01:32I suspect his frequent flyer miles may soon be classified information.
01:37Now, in practical terms, that means Ambassador Gorr is responsible not just for the U.S.-India relationship,
01:43but also for helping shape U.S. engagement across a region stretching well beyond India.
01:51He's also a bit unusual in the diplomatic world, known in Washington as a dealmaker and someone who gets things
01:58done.
01:59And perhaps most importantly, he brings something very valuable to diplomacy, a direct hotline to President Trump.
02:08No pressure there.
02:10A graduate of George Washington University, Ambassador Gorr speaks multiple languages.
02:18So we're delighted to have someone with us who combines the instincts of a political strategist,
02:25the reach of a diplomat, and the reputation of a man who knows how to get things done.
02:32Ladies and gentlemen, please join me in welcoming the United States Ambassador to India
02:37and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia, Ambassador Sergio Gorr.
02:52Good morning.
02:54It is great to be here.
02:56Arun, thank you for having me.
02:58Even before I got to India, I said, I've got to read up, I've got to learn about the daily
03:04news in India.
03:06And I remember turning on the television and looking for Indian channels in the United States.
03:11And the one that I settled on, one of several, but one of them, was India Today.
03:17And it took me a moment, because in the United States, when you have a story, it's right there in
03:22the middle.
03:22But when you put India Today, you've got a story on top, a story in the middle, something flashing at
03:28the bottom,
03:28and probably something on the side.
03:31But I will say, I've watched India Today even before I got here.
03:36I watch it even more now today.
03:38And as you alluded to with that cover, not only am I paying attention, but also the White House is
03:46paying attention.
03:47Good morning once again.
03:51Arun, this is, I think, your speech, if you want me to read it.
03:56Let's go to mine.
03:57All right.
03:58It's a pleasure to join you.
03:59The theme of this year's conclave, breakthroughs and breakdowns, captures the moment we're living in.
04:05And many forces that are shaping our world are being discussed here.
04:10Geopolitical shifts, trade uncertainty, rapid advances in artificial intelligence, and more.
04:16Around the world, these forces are testing institutions, reshaping economies, and challenging governments to adapt.
04:27But in the relationship between the United States and India, we are seeing something different.
04:32Instead of breakdowns, we are seeing breakthroughs.
04:35I've now been in India for a little over two months.
04:39And in that short time, we've already seen a remarkable series of breakthroughs that demonstrate the strength and momentum of
04:47the U.S.-India partnership.
04:48In just a few months, we've moved from talking about potential results to delivering actual results.
04:56One of the lighter moments during those early weeks involved the host of today's event, India Today.
05:04Earlier this year, the magazine ran a cover featuring President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, under the headline, The Mover
05:11and the Shaker.
05:12While I was in Mumbai, waiting to meet with the governor of the RBI, I happened to see that cover
05:18and thought it was pretty striking.
05:21So I grabbed my phone, and I snapped a quick picture of the cover, and I texted it to the
05:25president.
05:26What I didn't expect is that the president would advertise the entire cover to the whole world.
05:31Because in that case, I would have gotten a better picture.
05:34The president posted that India cover on truth, and right away, needless to say, every other outlet in India started
05:42sending me their covers also.
05:45The United States and India are paying close attention to each other, across governments, across business communities, and even across
05:53media.
05:53And that attention reflects something deeper, a partnership that is growing stronger, more visible, and more consequential every year.
06:02Under President Trump's leadership, the relationship between the United States and India has the potential to reach historic heights and
06:10deliver results on a scale we have never seen before.
06:14Let me highlight with you just a few of the breakthroughs we have seen in the past few months.
06:18First, a breakthrough in trade.
06:21Second, a breakthrough in trusted technology cooperation.
06:24And third, a breakthrough in strategic coordination between our governments.
06:28Each of these developments reflects where the U.S.-India relationship is headed, towards deeper partnership, greater economic opportunity, and stronger
06:37security for both of our nations.
06:40One of the most significant developments we have seen recently is the new U.S.-India trade agreement.
06:45And I know Raj will be asking me about that during our Q&A.
06:49For years, analysts spoke about the enormous potential of the economic relationship between our two countries.
06:54The scale of our economies, the talent of our people, and our entrepreneurial energy in both societies make the possibilities
07:03very clear.
07:04What was needed was momentum and the political will to translate opportunity into direct results.
07:10Today, we are beginning to unlock that potential.
07:13This agreement reflects a principle that President Trump has made central to American diplomacy, and that is reciprocity.
07:20Reciprocity means fair trade, mutual respect, and shared prosperity.
07:26It means creating economic incentives that reward companies, investors, and producers for building and innovating our countries.
07:34When trade rules preserve free and fair competition, they strengthen the industries that power our economies, from miners and refiners
07:43to manufacturers and technology firms.
07:46And this partnership is not just about tariffs or market access.
07:50It is also about securing the resources and supply chains that will define the global economy of the future.
07:58One of the most important areas of cooperation between our countries is critical minerals.
08:03Reliable and diversified supply chains for critical minerals are indispensable to both economic growth and national security.
08:11And I'm very pleased to say that the United States and India are moving to a very close state of
08:17finalizing a critical minerals agreement that will help secure the supply chains needed for advanced manufacturing, energy systems, and emerging
08:24technologies.
08:26Stay tuned, but in the next few months, we expect a big announcement on that front.
08:29Together, with partners across the Indo-Pacific, the United States is working to ensure that these materials, essential for advanced
08:38manufacturing, energy systems, and modern technology, are never used as leverage against our economies.
08:45No country should be held hostage.
08:47That means expanding production capacity, strengthening investment, and narrowing the gap between what our countries produce and what the world
08:55demands.
08:56We are already seeing what this cooperation can achieve.
09:00Just recently, I was in Gujarat with Prime Minister Modi as Micron opened a new headquarters and celebrated the first
09:09semiconductor assembly right here in India.
09:12A major milestone for India's semiconductor ambitions and for our broader technology partnership.
09:19This investment strengthens supply chain's resilience, expands advanced manufacturing in India,
09:24and demonstrates how American companies and Indian talent can work together to build industries of the future.
09:31And so while Micron is opening up in Gujarat, at the same time they're opening up in Syracuse, New York.
09:36That is a win-win and the two hands working together for the advancement and greater good of both of
09:41our nations.
09:42Across the United States, the Trump's administration economic policies have sparked trillions of dollars in new investment,
09:49including in the critical mineral sector.
09:51That investment is being amplified by partnership with trusted allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific, such as India.
09:58The message is simple.
10:00America is open for business, and we welcome partners who want to build the industries of the future together with
10:06us.
10:07Energy cooperation is another area where the U.S. and India partnership is growing rapidly.
10:12For the first time in nearly 50 years, a new major oil refinery will be built in the United States.
10:20President Trump has called it a historic $300 billion project.
10:25Investments of that scale are no accident.
10:28India is a strong and reliable partner for the United States, helping strengthen global energy security.
10:33And during my time in India, I intend to make it a top priority to continue making deals just like
10:40that happen.
10:41India's demand for electricity continues to expand as its economy grows,
10:46and meeting that demand will require a diverse and reliable energy mix.
10:51American companies across the civil nuclear supply chain are ready to support India's plan to expand nuclear power capacity,
10:58energy, helping provide the stable baseload energy for the long term.
11:03The United States is also a reliable supplier of liquefied natural gas,
11:08and we are ready to help meet India's growing energy needs in the years ahead.
11:13At the same time, there are opportunities to expand cooperation in areas such as coal supply for industrial sectors,
11:21and new technology like carbon capture, utilization, and storage.
11:26Taken together, these efforts show that the economic partnership between the United States and India
11:31is not just expanding, it's also evolving.
11:35Artificial intelligence is transforming the global economy at an extraordinary speed.
11:40The countries that adopt and deploy these technologies effectively will shape the era of growth and innovation.
11:48As many of you who attended the Global AI Summit saw, most of the companies on that stage were American.
11:53But the decision to hold the Global AI Summit here in India should speak volumes.
11:58That is a partnership that I aim to expand on over the next few years.
12:02Leadership in AI is not just about developing powerful systems.
12:06It is about how those systems are used and who benefits from them.
12:11Real AI sovereignty means owning and using best-in-class technology for the benefit of your people
12:16and charting your national destiny in the midst of global transformations.
12:21That is why we encourage countries to pursue strategic autonomy alongside rapid AI adoption.
12:27Rather than trying to build every element of the technology stack from scratch, let us work together.
12:35Independent partners are essential to unlocking the prosperity that AI can create for all of us.
12:40That is the thinking behind President Trump's American AI exports program.
12:45By working with American AI technology stacks, partner nations can build on the most advanced technologies in the world
12:51while keeping sensitive data within their own borders.
12:55At the same time, innovation flourishes when it is open.
13:00Dynamic and driven by entrepreneurs and researchers.
13:03Alongside AI cooperations, our countries are working together through an initiative called Pax Silica.
13:10Pax Silica is a U.S.-led effort to build a secure and resilient technology ecosystem
13:15across the entire silicon-based supply chain,
13:19from critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and AI infrastructure.
13:26And I want to highlight that India was one of the first that the United States reached out to
13:31and invited to join Pax Silica, among the first ten in the world, in fact.
13:36This initiative reflects a simple reality.
13:39The future of both economic prosperity and national security
13:42will increasingly depend on the control of the silica backbone of modern computing.
13:49By aligning trusted partners across the supply chain from resource,
13:54that spirit is reflecting the pace of engagement between our governments in recent weeks.
13:58Let me also touch upon the senior officials that have recently traveled to New Delhi and to Washington.
14:05We have had cabinet leaders, military commanders, and everyone in between.
14:09These discussions are producing real outcomes, and they reflect a simple truth.
14:14India's strength and sovereignty are essential to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
14:20Security cooperation remains a cornerstone of our partnership.
14:23India is a crucial partner in the Quad, which promotes maritime security, resilient supply chains,
14:30and technological cooperation across the Indo-Pacific.
14:34One of my goals is to revive the Quad, which in the last administration had fallen in the back seat.
14:41And that's one of the areas that we're looking actively to engage with Prime Minister Modi
14:45and with the two other leaders and President Trump.
14:48Going back to our two militaries, the U.S. and India, we are expanding cooperation across every domain.
14:55That includes air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace.
14:59What once centered primarily on defense sales is now moving towards something deeper.
15:04Co-production, joint research, and industrial collaboration.
15:08Together, we are exploring opportunities in advanced engines, unmanned systems, and expanded maintenance
15:15and repair operations right here in India.
15:18This collaboration strengthens both of our defense industrial bases, while enhancing stability across the region.
15:26Looking ahead, my goal as ambassador is to continue building on these breakthroughs.
15:30In addition to my role here in India, I've also been appointed and I'm honored to serve as the United
15:35States Special Envoy
15:36to South and Central Asia, a responsibility that reflects how central this region has become to the American diplomacy.
15:45For the first time, our President and our State Department have made the decision to place this role in the
15:50field rather than in Washington.
15:53And not only that, they have decided to base it right here in Delhi.
15:56That decision reflects how central India has become to shaping the future of this region
16:01and the possibilities we see in partnering with India.
16:05Over the past several weeks, I've already traveled to multiple of these countries,
16:09including Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and recently Bhutan.
16:13And next week, I'll be traveling to Sri Lanka, continuing these conversations.
16:19Promoting cooperation, stability, and economic opportunity across this broader region
16:23benefits not only the United States, but also India and the entire Indo-Pacific.
16:28When countries work together to strengthen connectivity, secure supply chains, and support peaceful developments,
16:35the result is a region that is more stable, more prosperous, and more resilient.
16:41And the United States looks forward to continuing that work with India as a trusted partner.
16:46Because when the United States and India work together, we do more to strengthen both of our nations.
16:54We help build a future that is more secure, more prosperous, and more open.
16:59Thank you to everyone for being here, and may God bless the enduring friendship between the United States and India.
17:20And while we wait for the chairs to get set up, I'll share a story.
17:23After we sent that cover to the White House, Raj sent me about 50 other ones.
17:30And the message from the White House, Raj, is keep them coming.
17:44I'll send, where do you want me?
17:47I'm here? Okay.
18:20Thank you very much.
18:26Thank you for that very lucid speech.
18:29You're clearly an ambassador with a big mandate and have great clarity of how to go about it.
18:35So let's give him another warm round of applause for that speech.
18:45You talked mainly about three breakthroughs.
18:57So let's talk first about, I think, the biggest breakthrough in Indo-U.S. relations that we've had in recent
19:04times,
19:04which is, of course, the Indo-U.S. trade agreement.
19:07Now, I have two questions on that ambassador.
19:10The first is that India has always been known to be a tough negotiator.
19:16But with the U.S., it seems you are the real deal master.
19:22And why do I say that?
19:26A lot of us thought there was a breakdown.
19:29A lot of us thought there was a breakdown.
19:32But as soon as you took over as ambassador, I think within nine days, you had the deal done.
19:39So tell us how you did it.
19:41I appreciate the credit, Raj, but the only two deal makers that got this done is President Trump and Prime
19:47Minister Modi.
19:48And this deal has been pending for a long time.
19:52One of the reasons that it got done is because of their deep and personal friendship.
19:56And that is something that President Trump truly appreciates and admires in your prime minister.
20:01Not only is your prime minister a friend today, that friendship goes back years.
20:07And those years include the years that the president was out of the White House.
20:10And when the rest of the world turned on President Trump in those four years of him being outside the
20:15White House,
20:16Prime Minister Modi remained a friend.
20:18And he didn't need to.
20:20The president wasn't in the White House.
20:21And that's something that the president appreciates and holds very near and dear.
20:25It's one thing when you're in the Oval Office.
20:27I've been in the Oval Office, and every world leader wants to get in there and talk to the president.
20:32But it's another thing when you're on the outside and you're not in power.
20:35And so the president truly considers the prime minister a dear friend
20:39because they kept in touch, they respected each other, and that transcends them being in office.
20:47And so the deal was almost there.
20:50They'd been working very hard on it.
20:52It took a little push and me arriving here in Delhi to bring the two sides together.
20:57But the deal, the elements of that puzzle were always there.
21:00And I'll give credit to, look, India is a tough negotiator.
21:04For many years, India has done a phenomenal job protecting India.
21:09With President Trump, his job is also looking out for the United States.
21:13I'll touch on one other item on the trade deal.
21:16The trade deal is a win-win trade deal.
21:19There's been a lot of remarks in the news here of people taking things out of context,
21:23taking things that are not in writing, that are not part of the trade deal.
21:29So I'm always amazed when I watch the local news because people sometimes do make stuff up,
21:33and it's not part of the deal.
21:34The deal is a win-win for both countries.
21:37You've had a phenomenal team here that have negotiated on your behalf for many years.
21:42And people said, why is this deal taking so long?
21:44In reality, we got this deal done in almost a year.
21:48To put that in perspective, the European Union deal took 19 years.
21:52So people kept saying to me, why is this taking one year?
21:55Look at the EU.
21:56And my good friends are here, the ambassadors from the European Union,
21:59I want to acknowledge them in Canada.
22:01But it was at a very rapid pace.
22:04And again, it got done because of their personal friendship.
22:08Just a quick second question.
22:10After all that good cheer that happened, the Indo-U.S. trade agreement seems to be in some sort of
22:16a limbo,
22:16especially after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the global trade deals that President Trump had made.
22:23So what are the next steps that you see?
22:26The agreement was to happen in mid-March, even as we're supposed to be speaking here.
22:31How do you see the next steps, and how quickly do you think things will get done?
22:35So the Supreme Court ruled on a very specific part of our trade laws, and that's called AIIPA.
22:42And they struck down the way that was being applied.
22:45The Supreme Court has not adjudicated dozens of other tools that are at the President's disposal.
22:51And so there's multiple other sections, including Section 301, which just got invoked yesterday, and many others.
22:57So we fully expect the nations that we've made deals with to honor those deals.
23:03I think India will do that because, again, going back to it's not just about honoring it.
23:07It is a win-win situation.
23:09When I travel across India, the growth that I'm seeing here, it's unbelievable.
23:15The amount of individuals that you have that this Prime Minister and this government has given an opportunity to grow,
23:23you have to meet that growth.
23:25And so a lot of what is in that trade deal includes buying items that you need.
23:30So it's not just a one-sided thing.
23:32You need more planes.
23:33You need more airports.
23:34You need more energy.
23:35You need AI.
23:36And so it's an incredible opportunity for both sides to work together and deliver those items.
23:41Right. Ambassador Gore, I just wanted to ask you that the trade deal has been tied to the Russian oil
23:49purchases by India.
23:51And now we see that America is allowing us or giving us permission to buy Russian oil.
24:00The word permission has not gone down well within India.
24:04Many court is criticizing it.
24:06And news coming in that Russian oil now is kosher for all countries.
24:11How has Russian oil become kosher?
24:15And how has the stance and position changed?
24:18So I think there's a couple things to unpack there.
24:21President Trump, since day one, has gotten involved in trying to end conflicts around the world.
24:26And I know Prime Minister Modi agrees with him in trying to bring this war between Russia and Ukraine to
24:33an end.
24:33This has been going on for four years.
24:35And millions of individuals have now lost their lives in this war.
24:39So the president was looking to do everything in his power to stop that war.
24:43Part of that was ensuring that around the world people are not purchasing Russian oil at that time because it
24:50was directly enabling the war to continue.
24:52Today we're in a different situation.
24:54Today we're in a situation where, unfortunately, Iran is trying to blockade the Strait of Hormuz.
24:59The Iranians are recklessly targeting commercial vessels, including Indians who have unfortunately lost their lives through Iranian missiles and drones
25:08in the last few days as recent as yesterday.
25:11And so we're frankly in a different environment.
25:15And so today, India understands this.
25:18India is a vital partner to us to ensure that these prices remain stable around the world.
25:23And so frankly, we appreciate India working with the United States and the global community in ensuring that the price
25:30of oil remains stable around the world.
25:33Right.
25:33Before we go to the larger role that you play as ambassador of South Asia and Central Asia, just about
25:40Strait of Hormuz,
25:41the world is feeling the pain and pinch of oil supplies being short, of gas being in short supply.
25:50How are you prioritizing?
25:52How is America prioritizing ensuring gas and oil supplies?
25:57I mean, it's a massive priority for us.
26:00As you've seen, you have multiple countries releasing reserves.
26:03The United States is stepping up production and stepping up shipments.
26:06You're seeing shipments that are going to move to this part of the world from South America and other places.
26:12We're doing everything we can.
26:13We're not the ones that are leading the blockade to drive your prices up.
26:16That is happening from another side.
26:18And so when you have ships that are commercial ships, those should not be targeted.
26:22We're not at war with commercial companies.
26:24We're not trying to drive your prices up.
26:26The other side is.
26:28Let me just follow up that question on the wall because that's on top of everybody's mind.
26:33And the United States is now directly striking Iran, as we've seen in the last few days.
26:38What is the strategic endgame that Washington is pursuing in this conflict?
26:43And the big question, how long do you think the war will last?
26:46Both great questions.
26:48I will say those are great questions for our Secretary of War, which I'm not.
26:52The one thing I'll share is, look, the President's been very clear.
26:54We cannot have a nuclear Iran.
26:56And what you've seen now is on day one, after the United States got involved in this conflict,
27:01the first thing Iran did is strike every one of their neighbors, left, right, up and down.
27:06And so there was not one person in the Gulf that has avoided this reckless and very dangerous
27:13and deadly behavior, but they've expanded beyond that.
27:15They're hitting Azerbaijan.
27:16They're hitting Turkey.
27:17That's not somebody who's stable.
27:19Now imagine if that individual had a nuclear bomb.
27:22And so I think what the President is doing is bringing stability, not just there,
27:25but to the whole region and, frankly, to the whole world.
27:28Okay.
27:29Not regime change, though.
27:30That's not happening in Iran, Ambassador?
27:33Look, the President's been clear on what he wants to achieve.
27:36In terms of answering your question on how long this is, those plans are not happening here in Delhi.
27:41So I'll defer you to the Pentagon on that.
27:44Let's deal with something that you spoke about, which is the Paxilica.
27:48And you felt that India would be playing a larger role in that.
27:52We'd like to know what kind of role.
27:53And secondly, Paxilica was seen as a counter to China and the domination that they had in certain areas of
27:59technology.
28:00How do you see India's role as a balance towards China?
28:05In the past, a lot of Presidents saw India's pivot in countering China.
28:09Is that with the Trump administration as well?
28:12I think our President, what I would say about our President is he's one of the most pragmatic individuals,
28:17and he wants to be able to get along with everybody.
28:19He truly does.
28:20He will talk to everybody.
28:22And you could look at the difference between we had issues at one point with Colombia and with Venezuela.
28:28Colombia showed up to the White House, and they had a fantastic meeting.
28:31Venezuela did not want to reciprocate.
28:33The President will engage with anyone on diplomacy, and he's always happy to do that.
28:38Up until the United States got involved in Iran, the day before, talks were continuing.
28:42So the United States always shows up with an open hand.
28:45But there's also a difference between us engaging around the world and those who we trust.
28:51And this is something I want to emphasize.
28:52The United States trusts India to be included in this very crucial stack.
28:58Paxilica is the future.
29:02Years ago, everybody would worry about oil.
29:04And we still worry about oil, by the way.
29:06But looking ahead, what are those areas that the United States needs to rely on in order to succeed?
29:13And what are those areas for India?
29:14And one of those is AI, it's technology, it's chips.
29:17So who are we looking to develop that with?
29:21And if you look at that list of 10 individuals, 10 countries that have signed into that,
29:25to me it's an incredible opportunity that one of the first around the world that we said,
29:29who do we trust to build this, to grow with, is India.
29:33It's incredible the kind of agreements you've got done after your arrival.
29:38So let's talk about your diplomatic mandate, because this is a rare diplomat who sits in New Delhi,
29:44but controls South Asia and Central Asia for us.
29:48And the room over here.
29:50We'd like to know when are you visiting Pakistan,
29:52because that's going to become a massive news piece over here.
29:55This is the first time a U.S. ambassador to India would be traveling to Pakistan.
30:00Lo and behold, if they take you to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, that would spell hyphenation in bold.
30:07I don't know who told you where I'm traveling, but I've not heard those plans.
30:11So I have no plans on traveling there right now.
30:14Our relationship with India is our relationship with India.
30:17And the United States does not look at anyone in joint relationships or group relationships.
30:22We have individual relationships with all of these countries.
30:25That are bilateral.
30:27And going back to your question on my special envoy role,
30:30when the president appointed me to be ambassador here in special envoy,
30:33one of the things he said is,
30:34for too long this part of the world has not gotten that tension it deserves from the United States.
30:39And so I am able to travel to those countries, and I'm able to add,
30:44I don't subtract, we have embassies at those places,
30:46but I'm able to add on and raise whatever it is that might be happening directly to the president and
30:54to the White House.
30:54And we've done some incredible deals done.
30:56Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, each one of them have signed deals over 25 billion each with the United States in the last
31:03few months.
31:04Those are real results that benefit both sides.
31:07The president wants to hear about those things directly, and I'm able to elevate that directly to him.
31:11I know there's just two minutes or two and a half minutes left,
31:15so let's deal with the, firstly, the whole issue of H-1B visas and H-4 visas.
31:21Thousands have remained stuck outside the United States because of visa appointment backlogs.
31:26Is this a priority area for you?
31:28And second, what reassurance would you offer the Indian diaspora about America's commitment to welcome talent?
31:34Welcome talent.
31:35Yeah.
31:36I mean, talent has been welcomed in America for decades.
31:39I don't think that that's changing anytime soon.
31:42In terms of the visa backlog, this is not just something that is an issue here in India,
31:48so it's not as if India is being targeted.
31:51President Trump, when he came in, came in on a very strong mandate on securing the border,
31:55and it's something your prime minister here quite often talks about is that India also needs to have a secure
32:01and strong border.
32:01For us, we had millions of individuals coming across our southern border.
32:06We don't know who they are, we don't know where they're from, and we don't know where they're going.
32:09Millions.
32:10Not tens of thousands, not hundreds of thousands, millions.
32:13And so for one of the things that this administration is doing is taking an assessment around the world
32:18of what is it that we need to do to ensure that the United States remains safe.
32:23And part of that is additional screening, additional vetting, but that's not specific to India.
32:28It's the whole world.
32:29And so things are improving.
32:32Our embassies are open.
32:33I was over there yesterday.
32:34I met a lot of people applying and getting their visas.
32:37With that said, we need to know who's coming into our country, and we have a criteria of who's allowed
32:43in.
32:43That's – yeah, go ahead.
32:45I think there's a minute, and let's end with a very personal question,
32:48which was when President Trump appointed you as ambassador, what did he tell you,
32:53and what was the kind of mandate he gave you, and what were the priorities,
32:57and if you look at the days or months ahead, what would you be doing on that?
33:00And can I just add a bit to that?
33:02When is the president coming to India?
33:04Good.
33:05Well, I think we're out of time.
33:08But look, the president wants to come to India.
33:11I will say, I think before the president comes here, you're going to see Secretary Rubio coming here this year.
33:16So that should be happening in the near future.
33:20I wanted to be here.
33:21I first came to India 15 years ago with my parents, and I got to travel to several states.
33:25And to me, it left a wow impression.
33:27I've been to 91 countries, but the vibrancy, the culture, the history,
33:31frankly, the friendly people that you meet in India, it, to me, left an incredible impression.
33:38And so I wanted to be here.
33:40When the president appointed me to come to India, it's one of the things he emphasizes,
33:45the importance of this relationship.
33:46If you look at our largest countries around the world, the ones that really matter to him
33:52and to the world, stability, we had about five to ten that are open.
33:58And that included Brazil, that included Russia, that included Germany, that included India.
34:03So the president is only going to appoint someone into those global powers that he directly knows,
34:09that is able to go directly to him.
34:12So I was honored.
34:13I'm privileged to be here.
34:15And so for the next two and a half years, stay tuned.
34:17And hopefully we'll get a lot of big things done.
34:20How is he as a boss?
34:21How is President Trump as a boss?
34:22Fantastic.
34:22Fantastic.
34:23I've been with the president for ten years.
34:25And at one point he said to me, aren't you going to miss the White House?
34:28And I said, I'm not going to miss the White House.
34:29I'm going to miss you.
34:32Ambassador Goh, let's give him a very, very warm round of applause.
34:35Thank you so much, Ambassador Goh, for taking time.
34:37Thank you so much.
34:57Thank you so much.
35:08Because we are thrilled that you chose the India today for speaking to India.
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