US envoy downplays Indo-Pacific name change, stresses strong India ties
U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor dismissed the controversy over the renaming of the Indo-Pacific Command, asserting that the name on the letterhead is insignificant compared to actual bilateral actions. Speaking at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit on Monday (June 29, 2026), Gor emphasised that India continues to conduct more military exercises with the United States than with any other country, and regular bilateral defence visits are ongoing.
The remarks come after the U.S. restored the original name 'Pacific Command' earlier this month, dropping 'Indo' from the title that had been adopted during President Donald Trump’s first term to highlight India’s role in the region. The command, established in 1947, covers a vast area from the U.S. West Coast to India’s western border.
“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 with any other country by far. Every single month there’s something happening, whether it’s Indian troops coming here or U.S. troops going into the region.”
The ambassador also revealed that a delegation of the Indian Navy will visit the U.S. within the next two weeks, further underscoring continued military engagement.
Rejecting suggestions that bilateral ties have weakened, Gor insisted the overall relationship remains on strong footing. “So to all those pundits that sit online and tweet and say this relationship is in trouble, when you look at the facts—whether it’s trade, defence, or people-to-people ties—the relationship is on strong footing,” he said.
Gor stated that President Trump attaches significant importance to ties with India and remains committed to expanding cooperation across trade, technology, defence, and investment. He recalled an incident when Trump decided to call Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Miami while attending a Ultimate Fighting Championship event. “It was a couple months ago... we’re sitting backstage, and he said to me, ‘Let’s call the Prime Minister.’ I said, ‘Sir, it’s 6:00 a.m. in the morning there.’ He said, ‘He will be up. He is like me,’” Gor recounted. The call was eventually scheduled for the next day, but Gor noted the anecdote highlights the personal friendship between the two leaders.
“The louder message of that story is when you’re friends with somebody, not everything has to be scheduled,” Gor said, 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.”
Looking ahead, Gor stressed that the next two years will be critical in shaping bilateral ties for decades. “These next two years will set the relationship on a path for several decades ahead. So, for everyone here who participates in this, think of this as a long-term project. This is not a one-year or two-year, but what we sow now will continue to sustain us decades ahead,” he said.
