PM Modi-Trump G7 meeting: First face-to-face meeting in 16 months; What did they discuss? | Today’s news
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a brief conversation on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France on Tuesday (16 June), marking their first face-to-face meeting in 16 months amid efforts by New Delhi and Washington to mend strained bilateral ties.
The two leaders exchanged pleasantries and warmly shook hands in Evian-les-Bains ahead of a planned bilateral meeting on Wednesday, which is expected to focus on trade, defense cooperation and key global issues.
First personal meeting in 16 months
The meeting was the first between Prime Minister Modi and Trump since the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Washington in February last year.
While details of their brief exchange were not immediately known, the interaction set the stage for what was expected to be a high-stakes bipartisan discussion.
Officials on both sides are trying to restore the momentum of the relationship after a period of diplomatic friction.
India-US relations hit by tariffs, notes Pakistan
Relations between the two countries have come under strain after Washington imposed punitive tariffs on Indian goods and Trump repeatedly claimed he played a decisive role in ending military tensions between India and Pakistan during last year’s conflict.
Within months, Trump publicly claimed to have helped avert a full-scale war between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
However, India strongly rejected this claim, claiming that the cessation of hostilities was the result of direct talks between Delhi and Islamabad only, and that the United States had no role in the process.
Washington’s immigration policies, including an increase in H-1B visa fees, have also contributed to the strain in bilateral relations.
A fresh tribe after the death of Indian sailors
The relationship faced another setback last week after three Indian sailors were killed in US military attacks on merchant vessels off the coast of Oman.
According to US military officials, the vessels were targeted in an alleged attempt to break the US blockade of Iranian ports.
Following the incident, India summoned US chargé d’affaires Jason Meeks and expressed its strong protest, calling attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members “unacceptable”.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also raised the matter with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trade agreement, defense cooperation on the agenda
Despite recent disagreements, the two governments have sought to stabilize relations and advance negotiations on a bilateral trade deal in recent months.
The proposed pact is expected to serve as a springboard to a broader economic partnership envisioned during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington in 2025.
During Wednesday’s talks, PM Modi and Trump are expected to review progress in trade talks and discuss measures to strengthen defense and strategic cooperation.
Global issues are likely to emerge
The leaders are also expected to exchange views on major international developments, including the conflict in West Asia and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
During his visit to India last month, Rubio invited Prime Minister Modi on Trump’s behalf to visit the White House in the near future, describing India as a “cornerstone” of Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
India is participating in the G7 as a guest country
PM Modi is attending the summit at the invitation of host country France.
The G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, along with the European Union.
The grouping serves as a platform for leading economies to coordinate responses to major economic, geopolitical and security challenges facing the world.
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