Two Democracies, One Enduring Bond
“When relations bend under pressure, it is often the ambassador who steadies the arc, and the new US envoy to India is poised to help the partnership find its balance once more.” The relationship between the United States of America and India has always been essential, not merely at the level of Governments, but equally, and perhaps more enduringly, at the level of people-to-people engagement.
Two great democracies, separated by geography yet united by shared values of liberty, pluralism, innovation, and the rule of law, have found in each other a natural partner across decades of global change. While official policies and strategic priorities may shift with changing administrations, the deeper civilisational and societal connections between the peoples of India and the United States have remained a constant source of strength.
History shows that there have been periods of difference and divergence at the Government-to-Government level. These differences, shaped by global alignments, domestic compulsions, and ideological perspectives, were never permanent ruptures but temporary pauses in an otherwise steadily evolving partnership. Recognising this reality, the United States has consistently placed great emphasis on appointing highly capable and forward-looking ambassadors to India.
Such envoys have traditionally played a crucial role in rebuilding trust, restoring dialogue, and advancing mutual interests in times when official relations required careful recalibration. At this important juncture, the selection of Ambassador Sergio Gor as the envoy of the United States to India is widely seen as a significant and positive development. Ambassador Gor is known not only for his professional efficiency and diplomatic acumen but also for the close confidence he enjoys with President Donald Trump.
This proximity to the highest levels of decision-making in Washington gives him a unique ability to communicate perspectives clearly, resolve misunderstandings swiftly, and translate shared aspirations into concrete outcomes. The people of India, therefore, look upon his appointment with considerable hope and optimism, confident that he will help restore and strengthen the golden bridge between India and the United States.
People-to-people relations have always been the backbone of the Indo-US partnership. Long before strategic dialogues and defence agreements became central to bilateral engagement, it was students, scholars, professionals, entrepreneurs, and cultural ambassadors who laid the foundations of mutual understanding. During the Cold War years,
when the global atmosphere was often vitiated by fear, suspicion, and ideological prejudice at the governmental level, well-meaning friends from both societies chose a different path. They believed that sustained dialogue between ordinary citizens could gradually soften official positions and, over time, improve state-level relationships. It was in this spirit that the organisation “Friends of United States of America” came into being.
Dr Moturi Satyanarayana, an eminent parliamentarian of long standing and a distinguished member of the Constituent Assembly of India, along with KN Ranganathan, an early and visionary leader in the sphere of informal international relationships, took the initiative to institutionalise this effort. They envisioned a non-political, non-profit, social and cultural organisation that would serve as a platform for dialogue, friendship, and mutual respect.
Accordingly, the Friends of United States of America was formed as a registered society, dedicated to fostering goodwill beyond the confines of official diplomacy. The role played by this organisation during challenging phases of bilateral relations cannot be overstated. It is particularly noteworthy that Harry Barnes, the then US Ambassador to India, personally extended his support and engagement with the Friends of United States.
His involvement reflected a clear understanding that diplomacy is most effective when it resonates with public sentiment. Through sustained interaction, cultural exchanges, and open conversations, many minor misunderstandings at the Government-to-Government level were gradually addressed, contributing to a more balanced and constructive relationship.
Today, as India and the United States stand at a moment of renewed opportunity, the relevance of such people-centric institutions is greater than ever. Strategic convergence in areas such as technology, defence, trade, education, and climate action must be reinforced by mutual trust and public goodwill. The Friends of United States of America reaffirms its commitment to this mission and expresses its full support and assistance to Ambassador Sergio Gor in the discharge of his responsibilities.
There is a shared confidence that Ambassador Gor will work tirelessly to revive and normalize people-to-people relationships, recognising them as the foundation upon which enduring state-to-state ties are built. As these human connections deepen, they will inevitably strengthen official engagement and cooperation. In doing so, he will help ensure that relations between the world’s two largest democracies not only return to normalcy, but also rise to a level that truly reflects their shared values, mutual respect, and common destiny in a rapidly changing world.
In this collective endeavour, governments may change and global circumstances may evolve, but friendship anchored in society endures. The hope is that this enduring friendship will guide policy with wisdom, temper disagreements with understanding, and inspire future generations in both nations to see partnership not as a strategy alone, but as a shared moral commitment rooted in trust, cooperation, empathy, resilience and democratic values. US Ambassador Sergio Gor begins tenure to strengthen bilateral ties.
The writer is a prominent columnist and public policy expert
