US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he held a “very good” conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, and said the two countries were working on trade deals.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the summit, was the leaders’ first face-to-face interaction in 16 months and came as Washington and New Delhi tried to steady ties that have been strained by tariff disputes and wider trade friction.
Trump described Modi as a “tough negotiator” and told reporters that he would be going to India “sometime in the future.”
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Sharing my remarks during the meeting with President Trump.@POTUS @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/48Jqv6uka0
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 17, 2026
Trade talks and the road back
The talks centered on the proposed India-US trade agreement, which has been under negotiation for months.
The two sides had agreed in February 2025 to try to resolve differences over trade and tariffs after Modi visited Washington soon after Trump returned to the White House, but relations later worsened when Washington imposed high tariffs on Indian goods and criticized New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.
The latest meeting therefore carried significance beyond the immediate trade file, reflecting an effort by both governments to restore momentum in a relationship that has seen repeated strains in recent months.
Trump: If India was attacked, America will be there to help
Trump looks at a laughing Modi: Is that a good statement?
Trump: If anyone attacks Modi we will be there. But if there is another leader in India, then I don’t know pic.twitter.com/JGM1m4Cxyy
— Shashank Mattoo (@MattooShashank) June 17, 2026
Maritime matters take centre stage
The G7 discussion also covered security and maritime concerns in West Asia.
Modi told Trump, in the presence of reporters, that the safety of Indian seafarers working in the Strait of Hormuz region was of “utmost importance” to New Delhi.
He said, “You are aware that hundreds of thousands of Indian seafarers are working across the world, performing their duties along international maritime trade routes—including the Strait of Hormuz—and their safety is of utmost importance to us,” and added that he was confident the issue would receive “the highest priority” during the implementation of the agreement.
Trump responded that the United States would stand by India if it came under attack, saying, “If they were attacked, we would be there to help them,” and, referring to Modi, “If anybody attacks that man, we’re going to be there.”
Fresh courtesies amid old strategic ties
India has been pressing the United States for months for a Trump visit, potentially as part of a meeting including Japan and Australia.
Trump said he would travel to India at some point in the future, while the G7 talks were presented by both sides as part of a broader attempt to move beyond recent disagreements and refocus attention on trade, defense, and regional security.
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FAQs
Q1: What did Donald Trump say about the India-US trade deal?
Ans: Donald Trump said the United States and India are “very close” to finalising a trade deal following his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 summit.
Q2: Why is the India-US trade deal important?
Ans: The proposed agreement is aimed at resolving tariff disputes, boosting bilateral trade, and strengthening economic ties between India and the United States.
