Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump discussed trade, defense, and regional stability during their meeting at the G7 Summit, according to India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
EVIAN, FRANCE — During a meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump reviewed progress on an interim bilateral trade agreement and explored avenues for enhanced cooperation in defense, strategic technologies, energy, and trade, as reported by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on June 18.
The MEA’s official statement highlighted Modi’s commendation of Trump for his efforts to resolve conflicts in the Middle East and to restore peace and stability in the region. Modi emphasized the critical importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce through the Strait of Hormuz, underscoring the need to ensure the safety and security of civilians, including seafarers.
In their discussions, the two leaders reviewed the progress made under the India-U.S. COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) initiative, which was established during their previous meeting in Washington in February 2025.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction with developments across various sectors, including defense, strategic technologies, energy, and bilateral trade. They noted significant advancements in negotiations toward an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement, instructing their officials to work towards a balanced, mutually beneficial, and commercially meaningful agreement as soon as possible.
The MEA also announced that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India next week to continue discussions on the trade agreement.
Concerns regarding the safety of Indian seafarers were also addressed during the bilateral meeting. Trump acknowledged the challenges faced by Indian sailors amid recent regional tensions and assured that Washington would collaborate with New Delhi on maritime security issues. “It’s a rough profession, there’s no question about it, and we work together on it,” Trump stated. “We love all of those people; they’re great people.”
Additionally, Trump expressed support for continued opportunities for highly skilled Indian professionals in the United States, noting, “We’ve always had tremendous relationships in terms of employment with India. Very talented people.”
In conclusion, the MEA reported that Modi and Trump reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, aiming to advance cooperation across multiple sectors for the mutual benefit of both nations and their citizens, according to IANS.