New York, Sept 23: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday.

Following the meeting, the State Department took to its official ‘X’ handle, “They look forward to further promoting the success of the U.S.-India relationship.”

The meeting followed a bilateral discussion between Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during which they “agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas”.

Gor, who is awaiting Senate confirmation for his ambassadorship, will also serve as President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for South and Central Asia.

A close ally of Trump, Gor played a key role in his election campaign and previously served as the director of the presidential personnel office, responsible for selecting and vetting political appointees for the administration.

During his Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing earlier this month, where he was being considered for the ambassadorship, Gor stated, “The US-India partnership will define the 21st Century.” He went on to highlight, “India is a strategic partner whose path will shape not just the region, but the world,” adding, “Our President shares a deep friendship with Prime Minister Modi, and that’s something truly unique.”

Once Gor assumes his post at the embassy in Chanakyapuri, he will face the challenge of repairing relations strained by the trade conflict. This includes the fallout from Trump’s imposition of a 25 percent reciprocal tariff, followed by a 25 percent punitive tariff on purchases of Russian oil.

At the hearing, Gor remarked, “Enhancing US-India trade relations will not only strengthen US competitiveness but also diminish China’s economic influence over other countries.”