Modi-Trump meeting at G7 Summit today… First bilateral meeting following ‘Operation Sindoor’ and the tariff dispute

New Delhi. Addressing an outreach session at the G7 Summit in France on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated that the world is grappling not with a scarcity of resources, but with a crisis of trust. During the meeting, PM Modi was seated next to US President Donald Trump. He emphasized the importance of maritime security and ensuring that seafarers can perform their duties without fear. Alluding to the recent deaths of three Indian sailors amidst the US-Iran standoff, PM Modi remarked that those who sustain global trade via sea routes must be protected.

Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to meet President Trump today (Wednesday) during the G7 summit in France. Discussions will cover issues such as the situation in West Asia, the Strait of Hormuz, and energy imports from the US. Both India and the US are keen on a long-term energy partnership. A trade deal is in its final stages, with work expected to conclude within the next few weeks.

This will be the first face-to-face interaction between Trump and Modi following the strain in India-US relations caused by ‘Operation Sindoor’ and Washington’s decision to impose heavy tariffs on India.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in several key meetings and sessions in Evian, France, on Wednesday. Between 12:30 PM and 2:30 PM (IST), he will attend a G7 working session themed ‘Revitalizing balanced, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth for the benefit of all.’

Subsequently, from 12:40 PM to 3:05 PM, Prime Minister Modi will hold a trilateral meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. A bilateral meeting with Germany is scheduled for 3:00 PM to 3:20 PM. Following this, from 3:35 PM to 5:35 PM, the Prime Minister will participate in a working lunch focused on ‘ensuring the safe, rapid, and effective deployment of artificial intelligence.’ Later in the day, from 5:20 PM to 5:50 PM, Prime Minister Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with the US President—an event that will draw significant international attention.

The crisis in West Asia will be a key agenda item for the meeting between PM Modi and President Trump, though the upcoming India-US trade deal will also be discussed. A trade agreement between the two leaders will be a significant topic of conversation; most of the technical and procedural work related to the agreement has already been completed. India trades across more than 12,000 tariff lines, and the proposed trade agreement covers approximately 11,000 of them. Consensus has been reached on most technical aspects regarding market access.

Energy security will also be a crucial issue during the meeting. India’s energy imports from the US have seen an increase of nearly 60 percent over the past year. The current waiver regarding oil imports from Russia is set to expire on Wednesday, making the future course of action unclear. However, it is worth noting that sanctions have been imposed on specific companies rather than on Russia as a whole. There are several companies that do not fall under the scope of these sanctions, and India is currently purchasing oil from some of them.