WASHINGTON — The Senate on Thursday (September 18) confirmed 48 of President Donald Trump’s diplomatic nominees in a single en bloc vote, including Sergio Gor and S. Paul Kapur—two appointments seen as pivotal to the future of U.S.-India relations.
Gor was confirmed as the next U.S. Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. Kapur, an Indian-American scholar specializing in regional security, will serve as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee advanced the nominations of Gor, Kapur, Anjani Sinha, and Mike Walz the day before, in a 12–9 vote that largely followed party lines. Republicans have pushed to accelerate Trump’s nominees after months of partisan gridlock.
Gor’s confirmation underscores the administration’s effort to reaffirm ties with New Delhi, a relationship recently tested by disputes over tariffs and India’s purchase of Russian oil. India’s ambassador to Washington, Vinay Kwatra, hailed Gor’s appointment as a sign of “the importance and priority of India-U.S. ties” and a commitment to strengthening the partnership.
Kapur’s selection also carries weight. A vocal critic of Pakistan, he has emphasized that Washington and New Delhi share strategic goals, particularly in maintaining a “free and open Indo-Pacific” resistant to Chinese dominance. During his hearing, he pledged to “advance U.S.-India relations and put our partnership on course to realize its tremendous promise.”
Thursday’s mass confirmation was made possible by a procedural change. In September 2025, Republicans invoked the so-called “nuclear option,” allowing blocks of nominees to be confirmed together rather than one by one.
Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), chair of the Foreign Relations Committee, praised the committee’s approval of 36 nominees earlier in the week and blasted Democrats for what he called obstruction.
“Chuck Schumer and Democrats have delayed every single Trump nominee and forced repeat votes,” Risch said. “The political games end here. Our committee has once again advanced President Trump’s nominees, and I expect swift confirmations as Republicans restore Senate tradition. Now, let’s get back to work.”
