India's US envoy calls on American counterpart at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, talks trade ties

This comes amid tensions between India and the US, stemming from Donald Trump's tariff policies and Washington scrapping the H-1B visa lottery

Published on: Dec 25, 2025, 01:41:13 IST

By HT News Desk

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India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, met with his American counterpart, Sergio Gor, at US President Donald Trump's residence, Mar-a-Lago in Florida, and held extensive discussions on trade ties amid tariff tensions and the suspension of the H-1B visa lottery.

Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra undertook his first visit to Mar-a-Lago and held discussions with Sergio Gor. (X/ Sergio Gor)

Kwatra undertook his first visit to Mar-a-Lago and held discussions with Gor, the US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy to South and Central Asia. According to his post on the social media platform X, the discussion centred on the “shared goal” of strengthening trade ties between India and the United States.

Both diplomats also talked about the priorities for the bilateral partnership.

“Happy to connect with @USAmbIndia Sergio Gor in Mar-a-Lago. Extensive discussions on our shared goal to (strengthen) trade ties, as also his plans and priorities for our bilateral partnership as he prepares to assume his responsibility as the US Ambassador to India!” Kwatra said in the post.

Sergio Gor also talked about the meeting in a separate X post, saying that it is “always a pleasure to meet with India’s Ambassador to the US @AmbVMKwatra. This was his first visit to Mar-a-Lago!”

This comes amid tensions between India and the US, stemming from Trump's tariff policies. The Trump administration also recently scrapped the H-1B visa lottery system, which will affect Indians the most.

Was Donald Trump present during the meeting?

While Donald Trump is also currently in Florida’s Mar-a-Lago, there is no indication that he attended the meeting between the US ambassador to India and his Indian counterpart.

Trump arrived at his Palm Beach, Florida, residence over the weekend for the Christmas holidays.

Later on Thursday, the Republican leader will participate in NORAD Santa Calls and make calls to service members.

He did meet the Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, with Sergio Gor posting a photo of the two leaders on Tuesday.

“Enjoyed hosting Prime Minister @tsheringtobgay of Bhutan on his first visit to the GREAT State of Florida!” Gor wrote in a post on X.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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