Modi-Trump bilateral at G7 today amid fresh tension in Indo-US relations following sailors’ deaths. what to expect | Today’s news
Today, June 17, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet US President Donald Trump for bilateral talks on the sidelines of the G-7 summit in France.
It will be the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders after US attacks on commercial ships killed three Indian sailors, further straining relations between the countries.
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The meeting between Trump and Modi will also be the first face-to-face interaction since Indo-US relations soured following Operation Sindoor and Washington’s decision to impose heavy tariffs on New Delhi.
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The Modi-Trump meeting is likely to focus on the bilateral trade deal, defense cooperation and broader issues affecting Indo-US relations.
India-US relations are strained due to the deaths of Indian sailors in US military strikes and the imposition of punitive tariffs by the US.
PM Modi called for strengthening the protection of global sea lanes and stressed the need for all countries to ensure that seafarers can operate without fear.
The death led to heightened political tensions in India, prompting the government to express strong disapproval of US military actions that affected Indian nationals.
Experts suggest that despite current tensions, India should focus on restoring ties and exploiting common interests, especially in trade and defense.
Two leaders they exchanged pleasantries and held a brief conversation on Tuesday at the G7 leaders’ meeting, marking their first face-to-face meeting in 16 months.
Trump and Modi have had a few phone calls and also agreed in February on the framework of an interim bilateral trade agreement that is being negotiated.
Read also | PM Modi calls for safe shipping routes days after Indian crew killed
PM Modi is on a week-long visit to France and Slovakia, during which he is attending the G7 summit and holding discussions with world leaders on a range of bilateral and global issues.
Indo-US relations in recent times
Following US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India last month, the two sides are now focusing on reviving bilateral relations, which saw a major downturn after Washington imposed punitive tariffs on India. Ties also strained after President Trump made controversial statements regarding his role in de-escalation Indo-Pakistani Army clashes during Operation Sindoor last May last year.
Over the next few months, the US president repeatedly and publicly claimed that he had resolved the military conflict between the two neighbors and saved millions of lives as he moved toward full-scale war.
New Delhi has strongly maintained that the cessation of hostilities was the result of talks between India and Pakistan and that US involvement had nothing to do with it.
Washington’s new immigration policy and its decision to increase the H1B visa fee also contributed to the decline in Indo-US relations. However, the two sides have been trying to mend relations in the past few months and even moved forward to cement a mutually beneficial trade deal soon.
A fresh tribe after the death of Indian sailors
Last week, hopes of recalibrating ties were dealt a blow after three Indian sailors were killed following US military attacks on three merchant vessels off the coast of Oman.
Three Indians from one of the vessels were killed in the attacks, after which Delhi summoned US chargé d’affaires Jason Meeks and told him that the US military’s “lethal and lethal” strikes on commercial vessels with Indian crew members was “unacceptable”.
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The death of the Indian sailors sparked a political row in India, with Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, attacking Prime Minister Modi for his silence, calling him an “obedient servant”. President Trump.
In his comments during the G7 Outreach Session on Tuesday, Prime Minister Modi called for the strengthening protecting the global maritime world routes and safety of seafarers, PM Modi told G7 leaders, including Donald Trump, that all countries must ensure that sea lanes remain safe and that seafarers can carry out their duties without fear.
Minister of Foreign Affairs With Jaishankar already raised the issue with Rubio.
The U.S. Central Command said it had launched an operation to decommission three vessels, the Marivex on June 8, the Settebello on June 9 and the MT Jalveer on June 11, saying they were attempting to breach the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.
What to expect from today’s Modi-Trump meeting
The two leaders are expected to review the full range of bilateral relations, including the ongoing negotiations on bilateral trade agreement and steps are being taken to strengthen defense cooperation, news agency PTI reported.
The trade pact is expected to be an important step towards a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement as envisaged during Prime Minister Modi’s visit Washington DC in February last year.
“In the 16 months since then, India has found its close ties with the United States severed by an unpredictable and sometimes aggressive Trump and his administration’s determination to open Indian markets and enforce immigration policies that disproportionately affect Indian students and workers in the United States,” New York Times reported.
“A flurry of actions detrimental to India’s interests has damaged its economy, wounded its pride and called into question the value of personal chemistry between leaders,” the NYT said in a report.
The two leaders may also exchange views on pressing global challenges, including the crisis in West Asia Russia-Ukraine conflictthe press agency said.
During his meeting with the prime minister last month, Rubio invited him on Trump’s behalf to visit the White House in the “near future.” America’s top diplomat has called India the “cornerstone” of Washington’s Indo-Pacific push.
Today, the prime minister has another meeting on the agenda
“There are legitimate concerns that the convergence between Delhi and Washington over the past 25 years has gone through a period of shift and may potentially be headed for divergence,” Atul Keshap, president of the US-India Business Council and former chargé d’affaires at the US Embassy in India, told the NYT.
“The two governments should focus on working to strengthen common interests, such as the digital economy and nuclear power, rather than delaying a final trade deal due to endless negotiations,” he said.
Modi traveled to France for the G7 summit as India was invited as a guest country for the summit. The Group of 7 (G7) brings together seven of the world’s most advanced economies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union is also a member of the bloc.
The G7 serves as a forum for its members to discuss and coordinate actions in response to major economic, financial and geopolitical challenges on the global stage.
Apart from meeting President Trump, PM Modi is expected to attend the G7 working session today on the theme “Reviving Balanced, Inclusive and Sustainable Economic Growth for the Benefit of All”. He will also hold a trilateral meeting with the President of the EU Council Costa, the President of the European Commission and the European Commission Ursula on der Leyen and a bilateral meeting with Germany,
In the 16 months since, India has found its close ties with the United States severed by the unpredictable and sometimes aggressive Trump.
Afterwards, the Prime Minister will also attend a working lunch on “Ensuring the Safe, Fast and Effective Deployment of Artificial Intelligence”
