US Ambassador Sergio Gor Enjoys Auto Ride In Namma Bengaluru, After Visit To Army’s Western Command Headquarters
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor soaked in the local flavour with crispy masala dosa, hot filter coffee and a autorickshaw ride in Bengaluru. Image courtesy: RNA
When in Bengaluru, do as Bengalureans do! This is the maxim that perhaps US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor lived by, on his visit to the Silicon Valley of India. In the city a day after visiting Indian Army’s Western Command, gor relished the local flavours, enjoying local delicacies ike masala dosa, hot filter coffee with Bengaluru South MP Tejaswi Surya.
With over 700 American companies and 43% of India’s software exports coming from Bengaluru, our city is central to US India economic ties. Surya pointed out how the startup hub is home to 40% of India’s GCCs and continues to drive innovation led partnership between India and the US.
In a move that underscores renewed momentum in India-US defence cooperation, Commander of the United States Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr on Monday (February 16, 2026) visited the headquarters of the Indian Army’s Western Command, accompanied by Gor.
The high-profile engagement, which also includes meetings with Indian space and defence start-ups in Bengalurum comes against the backdrop of a recent thaw in bilateral ties, reinforced by the announcement of a new India-US trade deal and stepped-up strategic dialogue.
Why is the visit to Western Command significant?
While past INDOPACOM chiefs have visited Indian Naval Commands, this marks a notable outreach to an Army formation. Western Command has played a key operational role in Operation Sindoor, and is responsible for one of India’s most sensitive frontiers. Admiral Paparo’s visit, therefore, carries both symbolic and strategic weight.
According to defence sources quoted by The Print, the American delegation was briefed on operational capabilities of Western Command, lessons from past operations, including Operation Sindoor, the formation’s future readiness posture, along with emerging technological and doctrinal challenges.
What was discussed on Operation Sindoor and China?
A day before the visit, Admiral Paparo interacted with select journalists and openly praised India’s “tactical execution and restraint” during Operation Sindoor. Significantly, he acknowledged that both India and the US have lessons to learn from the use of Chinese-origin weapons and platforms, chinese satellite support and ISR capabilities.
Referring to past India-China flashpoints such as Doklam (2017) and eastern Ladakh (2020), Paparo emphasised “constant vigilance and constant readiness”.
“One doesn’t ever know when the unforgiving hour comes,” he said, stressing the importance of maintaining a strong deterrent posture. He further highlighted that partnerships amplify deterrence by demonstrating “unity of purpose” and a shared commitment to peace through strength.
Sergio Gor’s Bengaluru visit
Witnessing the journey from masala dosa to machine learning, blending tradition with cutting-edge innovation, Surya showed the US envoy how the city plays a vital role in strengthening economic and people to people ties between the world’s two largest democracies.
Surya welcomed Gor to Bengaluru on Monday evening, and introduced him to Namma Auto, calling it “a memorable ride indeed.” He shared, “Over some masala dosa & strong coffee at Filter Coffee, Indiranagar, we had an engaging conversation on the growing India US partnership, especially in trade, technology and innovation following the interim trade agreement.”
Why is this visit to Chandigarh and Bengaluru important?
The visit coincides with improving diplomatic signals between New Delhi and Washington. Recent announcements of a bilateral trade deal have helped ease tensions that had flared over market access, technology transfers and strategic autonomy concerns. Defence cooperation also appears to be regaining traction.
Paparo’s presence, alongside Ambassador Sergio Gor, reflects Washington’s intent to reaffirm strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific, strengthen military-to-military engagement, expand technology collaboration beyond traditional platforms.
What’s in store for the Bengaluru leg of the visit?
After Chandigarh, the American delegation is travelling to India’s technology and aerospace hubBengaluru, where it is expected to visit Digantara, a space surveillance and intelligence start-up; Pixxel, focused on earth observation satellite; NewSpace Research and Technology, specialising in unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
The planned interactions signal growing US interest in India’s private defence and space ecosystem, particularly in ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance), satellite technologies and unmanned systems. There is also speculation that Admiral Paparo may visit Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL).
Worth mentioning here is that this visit marks more than a routine engagement, reflecting a recalibration of defence ties at a time of shifting geopolitical currents. With India and the US moving past recent diplomatic friction and reinforcing economic ties through a new trade agreement, defence cooperation once again appears to be a cornerstone of the partnership.
Admiral Paparo’s message was clear: deterrence requires vigilance, capability and credible partnerships.
