New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump are likely to meet in France next month on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, setting the stage for an important diplomatic conversation after nearly 16 months.
The summit is scheduled to be held from June 15 to June 17 at Evian les Bains in France. French President Emmanuel Macron has invited both PM Modi and President Trump to the high profile gathering. While the White House has confirmed Trump’s visit to France, PM Modi’s participation has also been confirmed, according to the report.
If the meeting takes place, it will be the first face to face interaction between the two leaders in around one and a half years. Their last meeting was held in February last year, when PM Modi visited the United States on Trump’s special invitation. During that bilateral engagement, the two leaders discussed tariffs, trade, terrorism, defence cooperation and the wider direction of India US ties.
The possible meeting comes at a sensitive moment in global politics. The G7 platform is expected to discuss major economic and strategic challenges, including trade, artificial intelligence, critical minerals and China’s influence over global supply chains. According to the report, Trump is expected to push three key points at the summit: linking US economic assistance with trade agreements, promoting American AI tools and reducing China’s grip on critical mineral supply chains.
The global backdrop adds further weight to the possible Modi Trump conversation. Tensions in the Middle East, the security of the Strait of Hormuz and wider geopolitical uncertainty have already figured in recent exchanges between the two leaders. PM Modi and Trump last spoke over phone on April 14 for nearly 40 minutes, during which they discussed regional security and concerns linked to the Middle East.
The G7 includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union also participates in its meetings. The grouping focuses on economic coordination, financial stability, climate change, security concerns and major international policy challenges.
For India, the possible meeting could offer another opportunity to deepen engagement with Washington at a time when trade, technology, defence and global security are becoming increasingly connected. For the world, all eyes will be on whether Modi and Trump use the France summit to reset the tone of a vital strategic partnership.