President Murmu Welcomes New Diplomats at Rashtrapati Bhavan
President Droupadi Murmu formally received three new diplomatic representatives at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday. The ceremony marked the official beginning of their tenures in India.
Three Diplomats Present Credentials
The President accepted credentials from Mr Chandradath Singh, High Commissioner of Trinidad and Tobago. She also welcomed Dr Robert Zischg, the new Ambassador of Austria, and Mr Sergio Gor, the freshly appointed Ambassador of the United States.
Rashtrapati Bhavan confirmed the event through an official social media post. The statement detailed the participation of all three diplomats in the traditional credentials ceremony.
US Ambassador Emphasizes Strong Ties
US Ambassador Sergio Gor assumed his official duties after presenting his credentials. He had taken his oath earlier this week at the American Embassy in New Delhi.
Gor addressed embassy staff on Monday. He described the relationship between former President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi as genuine and substantial.
"I traveled extensively with President Trump," Gor stated. "I can personally confirm his friendship with Prime Minister Modi is real. Our nations connect through shared interests and high-level relationships. True friends may disagree sometimes, but they always find solutions through dialogue."
The ambassador called India a remarkable country. He pledged to elevate the bilateral partnership to new heights during his assignment.
"This represents the meeting point between the world's oldest democracy and its largest democracy," Gor observed. He noted that President Trump frequently recalls his visit to India and his bond with Prime Minister Modi.
Gor stressed the strategic significance of Indo-American relations. He expressed his intention to pursue an ambitious agenda throughout his tenure.
The new US ambassador brings considerable experience to his role. He previously worked with several American political and governmental organizations, including the Republican National Committee. Gor holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and International Affairs from The George Washington University.
Austrian Ambassador Looks Forward to Strengthening Relations
President Murmu also accepted credentials from Dr Robert Zischg, Austria's new ambassador to India.
"I feel honored to present my credentials to President Droupadi Murmu," Zischg remarked. "Austria and India maintain a long-standing friendly relationship. This bond rests on strong people-to-people connections and economic cooperation. I eagerly anticipate deepening our bilateral engagement."
The Austrian Embassy celebrated the occasion on social media. Their post welcomed Ambassador Zischg and noted the formal commencement of his duties.
India and Austria established diplomatic relations on November 10, 1949. Both countries have sustained consistent engagement across political, economic, and cultural spheres.
Earlier this year, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger. Their discussions reaffirmed a shared zero-tolerance stance toward terrorism. Both ministers opposed any form of nuclear blackmail during their talks.
Jaishankar visited Austria from December 31, 2022, to January 3, 2023. His trip further strengthened diplomatic channels between the two nations.
The credentials ceremony represents a standard diplomatic procedure. It allows newly appointed ambassadors to officially begin their work in host countries. President Murmu's reception of these diplomats underscores India's ongoing engagement with global partners.
