US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor dismissed the controversy over the renaming of the Indo-Pacific Command, asserting that the "name on the letterhead" is irrelevant compared to the substance of US actions. Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit on Monday, Gor emphasized that India continues to conduct more military exercises with the United States than any other nation and maintains regular bilateral visits of defence officials.
Gor Addresses Name Change Controversy
Gor's remarks come amid a row over the decision to drop 'Indo' from the Indo-Pacific Command. Originally established in 1947 as the US Pacific Command, it was renamed the Indo-Pacific Command during President Donald Trump's first term to reflect India's growing strategic importance. Earlier this month, the US restored the original name of the unified command.
"I just want to mention something because a lot of individuals made hay over a name change. I don't care what name is on a letterhead, but look at what the United States is actually doing," Gor said. "Yes, the name changed; we're still there. India still has more exercises with the United States than any other country by far. Every single month there's something happening, whether it's Indian troops coming here or whether it's US troops going into the region."
Bilateral Defence Cooperation Remains Robust
The US envoy highlighted that the Indian Navy will send a delegation to the US in the next two weeks, underscoring the ongoing military-to-military engagement. He rejected suggestions that bilateral ties have weakened, stating that the overall relationship remains on a strong footing across multiple domains.
"So to all those pundits that sit online and tweet and say, this relationship is in trouble, when you look at the facts of where this relationship stands, whether it's trade, whether it's defence, whether it's the people-to-people ties, the relationship is on a strong footing," Gor asserted.
Trump-Modi Friendship Highlighted
Gor also shared an anecdote illustrating the personal rapport between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He recalled an incident when Trump decided to call Modi from Miami while attending the Ultimate Fighting Championship bouts. "It was a couple months ago... with the president at UFC in Miami and we're sitting backstage and he said to me, 'Let's call the Prime Minister'," Gor recounted. When Gor noted it was 6 am in India, Trump replied, "He (Modi) will be up. He (Modi) is like me."
Although the call was eventually scheduled for the following day due to scheduling constraints, Gor said the incident showcased the nature of their relationship. "The louder message of that story is when you're friends with somebody, not everything has to be scheduled," Gor remarked, adding that Trump truly considers Modi a friend. "His years with the Prime Minister go back to his first term. There's warm memories of India. And so that's an incredible benefit."
Commitment to Expanding Cooperation
Gor affirmed that President Trump attaches significant importance to ties with India and remains committed to expanding cooperation in trade, technology, defence, and investment. The envoy's comments aimed to reassure stakeholders that despite the name change, the US-India strategic partnership continues to deepen.
