PM Modi and Trump push for early conclusion of India-US trade deal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian on Wednesday to push for the early conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement, with both leaders expressing support for expediting negotiations and taking India-US economic ties to the next level.

The meeting came ahead of US Trade Representative Jameson Greer’s scheduled visit to India next week, a trip expected to focus heavily on trade discussions between the two countries.

While some observers had predicted that India-US relations under Trump’s second presidency would settle into a more transactional phase, the optics and messaging from the Modi-Trump meeting suggested otherwise. Trump repeatedly praised Modi during their joint appearance, underscoring the importance of the bilateral relationship and highlighting his personal rapport with the Indian prime minister.

The US president described India as a major global power and signalled strong support for closer cooperation between Washington and New Delhi. Trump also indicated that India would have a friend in the White House as long as Modi remained in office, while emphasising the strategic importance of the partnership.

The meeting carried broader geopolitical significance as well. Trump suggested that India could play a role in ongoing efforts to stabilise West Asia following the recently signed US-Iran understanding, while leaving it to New Delhi to decide the extent of its involvement.

Modi, for his part, welcomed efforts to reduce tensions in the region and praised the agreement that reopened the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. He also raised concerns about the safety of seafarers, a matter of particular importance to India following recent attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew members.

The prime minister expressed hope that the emerging regional arrangement would help ensure safer maritime navigation and contribute to long-term stability.

The meeting also comes after a period marked by friction over issues including US tariff measures, India’s purchases of Russian oil and comments by Trump regarding the India-Pakistan ceasefire that followed Operation Sindoor in 2025.

While no major policy announcements emerged from the talks, the positive tone of the engagement is expected to provide momentum to pending bilateral initiatives, particularly trade negotiations, which both sides now appear keen to conclude in the near future.

The Modi-Trump meeting is likely to be viewed as an effort by both governments to reinforce strategic trust and maintain the strong political connection that has underpinned India-US relations over the past decade, even amid occasional disagreements on economic and geopolitical issues.