NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump are expected to be in attendance at the upcoming G7 summit in France, raising the possibility of their first face-to-face interaction since February 2025.
The summit, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, is scheduled to take place from June 15 to 17. Both India and the United States have confirmed the participation of their leaders, although officials say no bilateral meeting between Modi and Trump has been finalised so far.
Diplomatic sources indicate that both sides are exploring the possibility of an engagement on the sidelines of the summit, even as scheduling and protocol details remain under discussion.
The potential meeting comes at a time when India-US relations appear to be stabilising after a period of strain. Modi and Trump last met during the Indian prime minister’s visit to the United States in February 2025, shortly after Trump’s return to the White House.
Relations subsequently faced challenges over several issues, including trade disagreements, India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, and Trump’s repeated assertions that he had played a role in ending the India-Pakistan conflict last year — claims that India has not endorsed.
Despite these differences, recent diplomatic exchanges have suggested a gradual improvement in ties. Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India and extended an invitation from Trump for Modi to visit the United States.
While New Delhi has not publicly confirmed whether the invitation has been accepted, Modi is already expected to travel to the US later this year for the G20 summit, which is likely to be held in Florida in December.
Meanwhile, the two countries continue negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement that has been under discussion for more than a year. Officials on both sides are engaged in another round of talks aimed at resolving outstanding issues and advancing economic cooperation.
In addition to a possible interaction with Trump, Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with several G7 leaders during the France summit, including discussions with host Macron.
Any meeting between Modi and Trump at the G7 gathering would be closely watched as an indicator of the future direction of India-US relations amid ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges.
