Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump will hold their first face-to-face meeting since February 2025 on June 17, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. The White House confirmed the bilateral discussion, scheduled for 6:15 pm IST, highlighting ongoing negotiations for a proposed trade deal as a key agenda item.
Trade Deal & Global Partnerships
The G7 Summit, to which Prime Minister Modi was invited by French President Emmanuel Macron, runs from June 16-17. Beyond the bilateral meeting with President Trump, PM Modi is slated to engage with G7 leaders and representatives from partner countries on critical global issues. These include fostering global partnerships, promoting sustainable economic development, and ensuring the safe and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI).
A senior White House official indicated that the proposed trade deal between India and the United States has been under intensive negotiation for the past year, following the signing of a Joint Framework Agreement earlier this year. The official emphasized the significant potential for expanding bilateral trade, particularly in energy, industrial products, and select agricultural commodities, aligning with Prime Minister Modi's ambitious vision for India's global role and India-US relations.
Escalating Gulf Tensions and Maritime Security
The meeting between the two leaders comes at a critical juncture, with rising tensions in the Gulf region significantly impacting India. Recent US actions against oil tankers carrying Indian sailors off the Oman coast have strained relations between Washington and New Delhi.
- On June 8, 24 Indian sailors aboard the Palau-flagged oil tanker "Marivex" were rescued following US intervention.
- Two days later, a US attack on another tanker, the "MT Setebelo," resulted in the deaths of three Indian sailors: Deck Cadet Aditya Sharma, Engine Fitter Shivanand Chaurasia, and Chief Engineer Patnala Suresh.
- Subsequently, on June 11, the Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker "Jalveer," carrying 20 Indian nationals, was also attacked.
India has lodged a strong protest with the US, summoning the US Charge d'Affaires in Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs expressed deep concern over the use of lethal weapons against ships, stressing the impact on international maritime trade security and stability. India has consistently advocated for dialogue and diplomacy to restore peace in the region.
Conversely, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly defended these attacks in a conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, stating that the US would not tolerate violations of its naval blockade in Hormuz.
Post-G7 Engagements
Following the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Paris on June 18. There, he will participate in additional bilateral meetings, attend the VivaTech Summit – Europe's largest technology and startup event – and address the Indian community in France.