PM Modi, Trump swap notes ahead of meeting on G7 sidelines
The Indian Prime Minister also attended a high-level working session on Building New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity at the summit.
A possible meeting between Modi and Trump on Wednesday could cover issues such as the long-awaited trade deal between the US and India, as well as cross-sector bilateral cooperation, including pressing regional and global issues of mutual interest. Modi and Trump last met face to face in February 2025. During the session, Modi underlined the importance of trust in building international partnerships, especially in an increasingly interconnected world. He said the world must move from a donor-recipient framework to partnerships based on solidarity and equality. The Prime Minister emphasized that India has always followed a “humanity first approach” and that India’s vision of international partnerships is based on the world-is-one-family philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’.
Iran Deal Negotiations
The session was attended by leaders of G7 countries and partner countries, as well as important representatives from the World Bank and the African Development Bank.
The G7 summit is being held ahead of the signing of the US-Iran peace deal in Geneva on Friday, aimed at ending the long-running conflict in the Gulf that began on February 28 and has disrupted the global economy.
Trump also met with leaders from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt to discuss the Iran deal and the next stages of the process. He also reportedly discussed a possible agreement between Russia and Ukraine to end this war with G7 leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
This summit is of great strategic importance for India as the Prime Minister will bring the concerns of the Global South to the world stage. India’s regular participation in G7 summits underscores its growing role in addressing global challenges and contributing to peace, security, sustainable development and economic growth efforts. On the sidelines of the summit, the Prime Minister held bilateral meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. He also attended the gala dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.
INDIA-USA TIES
India-US relations have entered a difficult phase following Operation Sindoor and Trump’s claim that he helped broker a peace deal with Pakistan. Then came the US administration’s decision to impose customs duties on other countries as well as India.
Trump’s efforts to court Pakistan, which is said to have played a central role in Gulf war negotiations, have further weakened US-India ties. This situation has been further complicated by the events in the Indian Ocean Region last week.
India summoned US chargé d’affaires Jason Meeks twice last week to register protests over Indian casualties following American military strikes on ships off the Gulf of Oman and issued a cap. Later, external affairs minister S Jaishankar met his American counterpart Marco Rubio to register the country’s protest. The United States defended its actions.
According to the US State Department, Rubio told Jaishankar that violations of the American blockade and illegal transportation of Iranian oil through the Strait of Hormuz “will not be tolerated” and insisted that commercial ships must comply with instructions given by US forces operating in the region. The attacks increased public anger in India.
On his way to Evian, Modi landed in Geneva, where he was received by Swiss President Guy Parmelin.
According to foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the two reiterated their commitment to strengthen the India-Switzerland partnership.
