Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on Wednesday on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, marking the first formal in-person talks between the two leaders since their White House meeting in February 2025. The encounter comes as both sides pursue an interim trade agreement and seek to manage recent diplomatic strains stemming from a deadly strike in the Strait of Hormuz.
The two leaders were briefly seen interacting as they arrived for the summit, with venue visuals showing a handshake and a short conversation before they joined other world leaders. Modi is attending the G7 outreach sessions in Evian and is set to exchange views with global counterparts on major geopolitical and economic issues.
A key agenda item for the Modi-Trump meeting is trade. Negotiations for an interim trade pact are underway even after a recent phase of tensions in which the United States imposed a 25 percent tariff on certain Indian goods and added a further 25 percent penalty tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil. Washington later withdrew the penalty element and reduced the overall tariff burden, but trade remains a central topic. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India later this month as talks continue.
Diplomatic tensions have also risen following a US Navy strike in the Strait of Hormuz that killed three Indian nationals during the recent West Asia conflict. India lodged a formal protest, summoned the US Deputy Chief of Mission twice, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to convey New Delhi’s concerns, calling lethal actions against commercial shipping unjustified. The United States defended its strike, saying it was responding to violations of a naval blockade and alleged transport of Iranian oil.
The meeting offers an opportunity to address these disputes and stabilise ties. While Modi and Trump cultivated close ties during Trump’s first term, recent tariff rows and public claims about India-Pakistan relations have tested the relationship. Modi is also scheduled for bilateral talks with leaders from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates during the summit, underscoring India’s active diplomatic engagement at Evian.
Original Source: https://www.firstpost.com/india/g7-summit-pm-modi-trump-set-for-first-bilateral-meeting-since-2025-amid-trade-deal-push-14023190.html
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Publish Date: 2026-06-16 20:31:00
