India's PM Modi and Donald Trump Scheduled to Meet at G7 Summit in France

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to meet with United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit next week. This meeting will be the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders since their relationship cooled due to a dispute over Pakistan a year ago. According to officials in New Delhi familiar with the matter, both leaders are scheduled to attend the G7 Summit taking place from 15 to 17 June in Évian-les-Bains, France. Although a formal bilateral meeting has not been officially announced and plans for contact are still being finalised, officials are exploring the possibility of a meeting on the sidelines of the main agenda. Relations between Modi and Trump reached a low point following a brief military clash between India and Pakistan. Trump repeatedly claimed that he helped mediate a ceasefire between the two countries. Trump’s statement was strongly denied by New Delhi. Since then, the US President has instead built strong personal relationships with Pakistani leaders. In addition to geopolitical issues, tensions have also been fuelled by economic policies. Last year, Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods as punishment for trade barriers and India’s decision to purchase oil from Russia. Although the tariff was reduced earlier this year, both countries are still in the process of negotiating a new trade agreement. Despite the tensions, there are signs of reconciliation efforts. The two have spoken by telephone several times in recent months. Trump even praised Modi via a social media post on Wednesday (10/6), congratulating him on Modi’s long tenure as prime minister. He is a great leader! He is a strong, healthy, and wise man, and will have years of greatness and success ahead!, Trump wrote. Last month, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made a three-day visit to India and called the South Asian nation one of the most important strategic partners for the United States. Officials anticipate that the upcoming meeting in France may not yield major breakthroughs instantly. However, its main significance lies in the efforts of both leaders to reset the tone of a bilateral relationship that both governments describe as very crucial or vitally important. As of now, India’s Ministry of External Affairs has not provided an official response regarding the details of the meeting. Meanwhile, the US Embassy in New Delhi directed questions to the White House, which also declined to comment further on the plan.