The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has congratulated Sergio Gor and S. Paul Kapur on their Senate confirmations as the next US Ambassador to India and Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs (SCA), respectively.

In a statement issued on October 8, 2025, USISPF President and Chief Executive Officer Mukesh Aghi described Ambassador Gor’s confirmation as both “timely and decisive,” expressing gratitude to President Donald Trump for appointing a trusted confidant to a crucial diplomatic role.

“Ambassador Gor’s confirmation is timely and decisive, and we express our deepest gratitude and respect to President Trump for assigning a trusted confidant who can help execute the President’s vision. Ambassador Gor’s confirmation is a signal to New Delhi that the US-India relationship is a top priority for the administration and the region, and together, through the right diplomatic channels, we can iron out the creases and reach consensus,” Aghi said.

The statement noted that Ambassador Gor joins a distinguished line of former US Ambassadors to India, including John Kenneth Galbraith, Daniel P. Moynihan, Frank G. Wisner II, Kenneth I. Juster, and Richard R. Verma — all of whom were described as “vital architects of the US-India relationship that has stood the test of time for nearly 80 years.” Over the decades, that partnership has evolved into what USISPF calls “the most important strategic relationship of the 21st century.”

During his confirmation hearing, Ambassador Gor acknowledged a few recent “hiccups” in the bilateral relationship but emphasized that the two democracies were “not that far apart” on trade issues. He also reaffirmed India’s importance as a democratic and strategic counterweight to China in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We strongly agree with Ambassador Gor that Washington and New Delhi have more in common with each other than with Moscow or Beijing,” the USISPF statement added.

Aghi also extended his congratulations to Assistant Secretary Kapur, praising his academic and policy credentials. “In Dr. Kapur, we have a stellar academic and a South Asia scholar who is second to none in understanding the security of the region and New Delhi’s concerns vis-a-vis Beijing and Islamabad. Dr. Kapur was a stellar academic at Claremont McKenna College, and as a Claremont alum myself,” Aghi said, adding, “I am deeply honored to see one of the university’s finest academics answer the call of public service and in this crucial policy role at the State Department.”

With both confirmations finalized, Aghi expressed optimism about renewed progress in key areas of cooperation. “We look forward to progress on trade issues, technology cooperation, energy partnership, and education ties. We also hope for confirmation of the Quad Leader’s Summit later this year, to strengthen the strong personal kinship and personal bonds between the leaders of our two nations,” he added.

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