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 Indian 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 an "old 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 conditions for U.S. companies entering the Indian market. Although they reached a preliminary agreement on some issues in February, finalization has been delayed due to disagreements over U.S. Trade Law Section 301 investigations and tariffs. This law allows the U.S. to consider retaliatory tariffs on matters deemed 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 (MOU).

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

Trump addressed the issue of the sailors' deaths, stating, "We are working together on this matter," and referred to the sailors as "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 also expressed his willingness to visit India in the future, although he did not provide specific dates.

* This article has been translated by AI.