Trump and Modi Meet at G7 to Discuss Trade Agreement and Maritime Security

Indian Prime Minister Modi (left) and U.S. President Trump hold a bilateral meeting [Photo=AP Yonhap]

Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, met during the G7 summit to discuss a trade agreement and the safety of sailors in the Hormuz Strait. This was their first face-to-face meeting since their talks at the White House in February of last year.

On June 17, local time, Reuters and AP reported that Trump and Modi held a separate meeting while attending the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France.

Trump stated that negotiations with India have been ongoing for quite some time and are "almost at the final stage." He referred to Modi as a "longtime friend" but also described him as a "very tough negotiator."

The two countries are in the final stages of discussions for a phase one trade agreement, focusing on tariffs and the conditions for U.S. companies entering the Indian market. Although they reached a tentative agreement on some issues in February, the final deal has been delayed due to disagreements over U.S. Section 301 investigations and tariffs. Section 301 allows the U.S. to impose retaliatory tariffs on what it deems unfair trade practices.

Modi requested assurances for the safety of Indian sailors in the Gulf region, including the Hormuz Strait. He emphasized that "hundreds of thousands of Indian sailors are engaged in global maritime trade" and that their protection is crucial during the implementation of the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.

Earlier, U.S. forces attacked a Palauan-flagged tanker on June 9, claiming it violated a maritime blockade against Iran, resulting in the deaths of three Indian sailors. Following this incident, the Indian government summoned the U.S. chargé d'affaires to express its concerns.

Trump addressed the sailor fatalities, stating, "We are working together on this issue," and called them "great people." He added, "If India is attacked, we will be there to help them."

This meeting is seen as an opportunity to recalibrate the bilateral relationship, which has cooled due to tariff disputes and maritime security issues. Trump expressed his willingness to visit India in the future, although he did not provide a specific timeline.

* This article has been translated by AI.