AMBASSADOR GOR: Good evening, everybody, and welcome to this great celebration. Secretary Rubio, Mrs. Rubio, Dr. Jaishankar, Secretary Misri, Chairman Jason Smith, distinguished guests, friends, and colleagues, it is a true privilege to be here with you as we celebrate 250 years of American independence.
There is no better place to mark this milestone than right here in India's financial and cultural capital. Looking out at this room, I see the leaders, innovators, and risk-takers who provide the drive and capital that power both of our nations. More than 500 major American companies operate right here in beautiful Mumbai: tech giants like Google, Meta, and IBM; trusted household names like Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson; pharmaceutical leaders like Pfizer, Abbott, Merck; and the world's premier financial institution, including Citi, Bank of America, and JPMorganChase.
On Mumbai's stock exchanges, American institutional investors represent the single largest bloc of foreign capital invested in Indian equities. That is not an accident. That is a massive vote of confidence in India's economic trajectory. None of this happened by accident, and none of it was built overnight.
Immediately following the American Revolution, U.S. merchant vessels set sail for Mumbai, trading American goods for Indian spices, textiles, and teakwood. In 1792, President George Washington appointed our first consul to India. And in 1838, President Martin Van Buren commissioned Philemon Parker as our first consul right here in Mumbai. That represents 188 years of continuous diplomatic engagement and 250 years of commercial trade. It proves that lasting partnerships are forged by people who cross oceans, take risks, innovate, and build something substantial.
Mr. Secretary, having you and the great Jeanette Rubio back in India tonight underscores this steadfast emphasis the United States places on this relationship. When President Donald Trump sent me to India, he gave me a direct mandate: deliver results. Don't just talk about the future; make it happen. In their recent discussions, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed that commitment.
Today, our bilateral trade has shattered records, reaching over $240 billion. (Applause.) And we have an ambitious goal. We are laser-focused on driving that number past $500 billion in the next three years. (Applause.)
The commercial frontier ahead of us is unmatched, spanning semiconductors, critical minerals, energy, defense, and, of course, super intelligence. U.S.-India partnership does not move in a flat line; it climbs. It begins in the ocean depths with critical data infrastructure. It rises through our factories, labs, and research hubs. And it extends into deep space through commercial exploration. That is the trajectory of our alliance, rooted deep in fundamentals, accelerating upward at record speed, and heading straight for the stars.
Two hundred fifty years after our founders declared independence, the United States continues to build, lead, and win. Tonight, we celebrate 250 years of American freedom: the freedom to innovate, to compete, and to prosper. We celebrate tonight alongside a friend with whom we share far more than common values. The United States and India aren't just strategic partners; we're architects of the world of tomorrow, building the future of innovation, security, and prosperity together. (Applause.)
As the world's oldest and largest democracies, we share a resolute foundation for cooperation, from trade and resilient supply chains to a free and open Indo-Pacific through the Quad. In my travels across India, I've seen massive potential and an overwhelming drive for deeper ties with America. It reinforces what I say everywhere I go: The U.S.-India partnership is not just built in Delhi and Washington; it is built in Mumbai. It is built in Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Chennai, Goa, and the many cities that make India the engine of Indian prosperity.
Before I introduce Secretary Rubio to the stage, I want to thank the extraordinary team who brought this evening to life today. Please put your hands together to everybody who put a lot of effort into making this happen, to our benefactors and supporters who are here with us tonight. (Applause.) Let's also give a huge round of applause to our very own U.S. Navy musicians, the talented members of the 7th Fleet Band, the Orient Express, who are also celebrating with us tonight. (Applause.) Thank you for bringing American music, your energy, and the spirit of the Indo-Pacific to Mumbai. And thank you, Madhura Padave, for that wonderful rendition of India's national anthem also. (Applause.)
I want to bring up somebody who wakes up every morning and who looks out for a way to make the United States better, somebody who the President trusts, someone that the world seeks for his incredible judgement. Please give a very warm welcome for the second time this year - and I promise you he will be back next year - to my great friend, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. (Applause.)
SECRETARY RUBIO: Sergio left his phone. Should I read what's on it or - (laughter). You want to leave it here? All right.
Well, thank you. It's a great honor to be back with all of you here today, and I say "be back" because I was just here three or four months ago. And it's interesting, when I was here three or four months ago Sergio threw a big 250 party in Delhi, and now we're here, another 250 party in Mumbai, and I'm starting to think all our embassy does here is throw parties. Every - (laughter) - but we'll see what they come up with next year. You can't celebrate 251 the same way, it's just not the same ring to it, but it is an honor to be back and I'm glad to be back.
