India, Feb. 3 -- The announcement of a US-India trade deal came in typical Donald Trump style, with a Truth Social post full of big numbers and capital letters; but it was his trusted man in New Delhi, Sergio Gor, who dropped the big hint just ahead of it on Monday.

Sergio Gor, 38, became the US ambassador to India barely a month ago; and quickly emerged as Trump's key architect for reshaping US-India relations at a critical juncture marked by tariff tensions and strategic challenges.

Even before he formally took charge, Sergio Gor brought as a gift a photograph of Modi and Trump that was signed by the latter, with a message: "Mr Prime Minister, you are great."

Trump anyhow went on to accuse India of funding Russia's war in Ukraine, an...