India’s engagement with key global players took centre stage as Washington and Berlin signalled deeper cooperation across defence, trade, technology and geopolitics. The development is a reminder, if at all one was needed, of New Delhi’s role in shaping high-level diplomatic and economic outcomes.
According to a report published by a national daily, the US embassy struck a celebratory note yesterday as it played ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’, a 1960s classic President Donald Trump used in his election rallies, to welcome Ambassador Sergio Gor as he walked into his new office.
Declaring that his clear mission was to take the relationship to the next level, Gor backed the trade deal under discussion, saying both sides are determined to achieve it, endorsed cooperation in counterterrorism, energy and technology, invited India to join the US-led Pax Silica initiative on supply chain security and asserted no partner is more essential than India.
While describing Trump’s friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as real, Gor reportedly said the president could visit India “hopefully in the next year or two”. The remark suggests that the already delayed Quad summit that India must host might have to wait longer.
He said the US and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels, and that real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences in the end.
“Remember, India is the world’s largest nation, so it’s not an easy task to get this across the finish line, but we are determined to get there. And while trade is very important for our relationship, we will continue to work closely together on other very important areas such as security, counterterrorism, energy, technology, education, and health,” he was quoted as saying.
Despite differences, both sides have been close to finalising the deal for a while now, and India said last week it remained interested in a mutually beneficial trade deal between two complementary economies and looked forward to concluding it.
On Pax Silica, a US flagship initiative on AI and reliable supply chains, Gor said that as the world adopts new technology, it is essential that India and the US work together from the very start of this initiative.
Only close US partners like the UK, Japan, South Korea and Israel have been invited so far to join the effort, which is also meant to challenge China’s dominance in high-end technology.
Addressing embassy staff, Gor said they had an opportunity to redefine diplomacy and accomplish what could be the most consequential global partnership of this century.
“No partner is more essential than India. In the months and years ahead, it is my goal as ambassador to pursue a very ambitious agenda. We will do this as true strategic partners, each bringing strength, respect, and leadership to the table,” he said.
Gor was welcomed with a musical extravaganza featuring MAGA and Trump favourites like YMCA by Village People and November Rain by Guns N Roses. According to diplomatic sources, the playlist, which also included Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash and Hello by Lionel Richie, was chosen by Gor himself.
Gor was effusive in his praise of Modi, calling him an incredible and great PM. “I was with the President last week, and as we had dinner right after New Year’s, he recounted his incredible experience visiting here and also his great friendship with the great Prime Minister of India, Prime Minister Modi,” said Gor, a close Trump aide in his previous role.
“I’ve travelled all over the world with President Trump, and I can attest that his friendship with Prime Minister Modi is real,” he was quoted as saying. Gor is expected to present his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu this week, the report added.
Germany, India Strengthen Defence, Tech Ties
Even as India deepened engagement with the US, Prime Minister Modi hosted German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Gandhinagar for bilateral talks, with the two countries agreeing to significantly boost defence, trade and critical and emerging technology ties through the formalisation of 19 agreements.
Eight other announcements were made to ramp up cooperation in areas ranging from people-to-people contact to the Indo-Pacific and green development, including visa-free transit for Indian passport-holders through Germany.
Among the highlights was a joint declaration of intent on strengthening bilateral defence industrial cooperation, with Modi saying both sides will also work on a roadmap to enhance cooperation between defence industries, opening new opportunities for co-development and co-production. “The growing cooperation in defence and security is a symbol of our mutual trust and shared vision. I express my heartfelt gratitude to Chancellor Merz for simplifying the processes related to defence trade,” the PM said.
Four agreements were signed to boost cooperation in critical and emerging technologies, including semiconductors and critical minerals. “India and Germany are working together to build secure, trusted, and resilient supply chains. The MoUs being signed today on all these areas will give new momentum and strength to our cooperation,” said Modi.
The leaders discussed a range of global and regional issues in detail, including Ukraine and Gaza, with Modi reiterating support for peaceful resolution of all problems and disputes. “The two leaders reiterated their concern over the ongoing war in Ukraine, which continues to cause immense human suffering and negative global consequences.”
“They expressed support for efforts to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in accordance with international law and the principles of the UN Charter,” said a joint statement.
On Gaza, Modi and Merz backed a two-state solution while underlining the need for unhindered and at-scale delivery of humanitarian aid to the enclave and unimpeded access for humanitarian organisations. “They reaffirmed their readiness to support efforts towards just and durable peace and reiterated their call for a just, lasting and comprehensive resolution of the conflict in the Middle East in the form of a negotiated two-state solution,” the statement said.
Agreeing that terrorism is a serious threat to all humanity, the leaders said India and Germany will continue to fight the menace together. They unequivocally and strongly condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. “They called for concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. They condemned in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, J&K, on April 22, 2025, and the terror incident in Delhi on Nov 10, 2025,” a part of the joint statement read.
The PM also announced the launch of a consultation mechanism to boost cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, saying both sides will continue to work together to support development in the Global South. “The strength of our friendship is visible on the global stage. Our trilateral development partnership, through joint projects in countries such as Ghana, Cameroon and Malawi, is a successful model for the world,” he reportedly said.
Reaffirming strong support for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, the leaders emphasised its transformational potential in reshaping and promoting global commerce, connectivity and prosperity.
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