Parikshit Luthra

Gor's appointment comes at a sensitive moment in India–US ties which has come under biggest strain over trade issues. He succeeds Eric Garcetti, who stepped down earlier in 2025, leaving the embassy without a permanent ambassador for much of the past year.

India may keep importing 1.1–1.3 million barrels per day of Russian crude unless the government intervenes, as US threatens a 500% tariff, says Sumit Ritolia of Kpler.

The US intervention in Venezuela is reverberating beyond Latin America, threatening the stability of China's Belt and Road loans and placing Caribbean nations in a delicate balancing act. While China's immediate energy supply may remain largely intact, the long-term strategic and financial stakes are high, forcing regional players to navigate an increasingly fraught geopolitical landscape.

As Washington sharpens its sanctions language on Russian oil, analysts caution that structural oversupply, rising global inventories and pragmatic enforcement limits are likely to keep crude prices under pressure. For India, the evolving mix of discounted Russian barrels and softer heavy crude markets could translate into steadier feedstock costs and improved refining margins, even as geopolitical risks persist.

Ian Bremmer warns that Washington's growing policy volatility — from aggressive tariff use to institutional strain — is becoming a systemic risk for global markets, with courts, alliances and supply chains increasingly caught in the crossfire as investors brace for prolonged uncertainty in 2026.

Eurasia Group president says geopolitical tensions, tariff disputes and US moves in Venezuela have not altered oil market dynamics, while China bets on post-carbon energy.

The threat of 500% tariff also comes amid a prolonged trade negotiation between the US and India, that the MEA said, came close to finalising on several occasions.

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed in a podcast interaction that the trade deal between the US and India did not happen because Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call US President Donald Trump.

Differing assessments from US and Indian trade experts suggest that domestic political considerations in Washington and unresolved tariff levels, rather than gaps in negotiations, are keeping the India-US trade agreement on hold, even as official talks are said to be largely complete.

The European Union's trade friction with China offers India a chance to deepen economic ties with the bloc. With the 'mother of all deals' already signed, opportunity exists. Now the country must prepare to maximize gains.