US President Donald Trump praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the two leaders’ meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. In his working lunch statement, Trump reportedly referred to Modi as “calm, calm and absolutely lethal.”
“Unlike Prime Minister Modi who is calm, calm and absolutely lethal…I’m not…look at him…,” Trump said, according to officials who were present there. Follow live updates of the G7 meeting here.
The two leaders are expected to meet in a formal meeting soon and may discuss defense and trade issues and the ongoing war between Iran and the United States that has affected the entire Middle East region. Before that, Modi also held a trilateral meeting with European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian.
Why are Trump and Modi meeting?
While Trump and Modi were seen interacting on several occasions at the G7 summit, bilateral discussions are still ongoing. The meeting is largely significant for two reasons: hopes for a trade agreement between the two sides, and India’s concerns about the safety of its sailors in the Gulf after the US strike on a ship that killed three sailors.
Prime Minister Modi, who was sitting next to Trump the day before, had raised the issue of attacks on ships, calling for efforts to protect sailors.
“The safety of seafarers, who connect all countries through global maritime trade, is our responsibility,” Modi said at the session, with Trump sitting right next to him. “We must ensure that sea lanes remain safe, and seafarers can do their work without fear.” “India is fully prepared to work with all partners on these issues.”
Meanwhile, a potential trade deal between India and the US is important because it could represent a major breakthrough in economic ties, coming just months after relations were strained by Trump’s 50% tariffs on Indian imports.
The last time the two leaders held talks was in February 2025, when Prime Minister Modi was on an official visit to Washington.
Months later, in May, Trump claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor, an assertion India has repeatedly denied. The France meeting will be the first since then.
