Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump shared a brief but closely watched interaction on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Tuesday, marking their first face-to-face meeting in 16 months.
The two leaders were seated next to each other during an outreach session attended by G7 members and invited partner nations. Visuals from the summit showed Modi approaching Trump, exchanging a handshake, and engaging in a short conversation. Trump was seen rising from his seat and warmly greeting the Indian Prime Minister, even patting him on the arm during the exchange.
Although neither New Delhi nor Washington immediately disclosed details of their discussion, the encounter comes at a crucial time for India-US relations, which have faced significant challenges over the past year. Modi and Trump are expected to hold a formal bilateral meeting on the margins of the summit on Wednesday.
Earlier in the day, Modi joined world leaders for the traditional G7 “family photo,” interacting with several key figures, including European Union leaders, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The meeting between Modi and Trump is being viewed as an important step toward rebuilding ties strained by trade disputes, steep US tariffs on Indian exports, and differences over regional security issues. Additional tensions emerged following Trump’s repeated claims regarding his role in ending the brief India-Pakistan conflict of May 2025 and his growing engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership.
Despite these challenges, both countries have continued diplomatic efforts to strengthen cooperation. Discussions on a proposed trade agreement are progressing, with a US trade delegation expected to visit New Delhi next week. Recent high-level engagements, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India, have also signaled a commitment to maintaining strategic ties.
The upcoming Modi-Trump bilateral talks are expected to focus on trade, regional security, and recent concerns over maritime safety following attacks on merchant vessels carrying Indian crew members in waters near Oman.
