Key facts
- U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to visit India.
- Trump met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 summit in France.
- The leaders discussed trade and regional security.
- Modi raised concerns about the safety of Indian sailors in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Trump indicated a trade deal between the U.S. and India is nearing finalization.
- Concerns remain about the partnership potentially turning into a 'frenemy-ship'.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he will visit India, signaling a thaw in relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi following a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit in France. Trump stated that a trade deal between the two nations was close to finalization.
The leaders discussed security concerns, with Modi raising the safety of Indian sailors working in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for global oil and gas supplies. Trump assured that the U.S. would support India if it were attacked.
Relations between the U.S. and India had previously been strained due to trade disputes, including U.S. tariffs on Indian goods. Trump described Modi as a "scary" trade negotiator but also a "killer."
Modi, in turn, thanked Trump for his efforts in reaching an agreement to end the war with Iran, stating that the issue of seafarers would receive the highest priority during its implementation.