Modi, Trump to meet on June 17 as India-US tensions loom over G7 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet on June 17 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, according to local media reports citing US officials.

The meeting will be the first between the two leaders since February last year in Washington.

Trump is due to leave for France on Monday morning for the G7 Summit. During his stay, the US president is also expected to meet the leaders of Egypt, Qatar, the UAE and France.

Modi departed on Saturday for a week-long visit to France and Slovakia. During the trip, he will attend the G7 Summit and hold discussions with world leaders on a range of bilateral and global issues.

The Modi-Trump talks come at a time when India-US relations have faced challenges on several fronts. These include Washington’s imposition of steep tariffs on Indian exports, President Trump’s repeated claims that he helped resolve the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025 — a claim New Delhi has consistently rejected — and India’s oil trade with Russia.

The meeting will also take place against the backdrop of growing tensions over the Iran war, which has had significant economic implications for India.

Relations between New Delhi and Washington have come under further strain following recent US attacks on oil tankers carrying Indian sailors off the coast of Oman.

On June 8, a Palau-flagged oil tanker, Marivex, carrying 24 Indian seafarers, was disabled by US forces. All the seafarers were rescued safely.

Two days later, the US struck another Palau-flagged tanker, MT Settebello, killing three of the 24 Indian sailors on board. Those killed were deck cadet Aditya Sharma, engine fitter Shivanand Chaurasiya and chief engineer Patnala Suresh.

Another vessel, Jalveer, a Guinea-Bissau-flagged tanker carrying 20 Indians, was attacked on June 11.

Following the deaths, New Delhi lodged a strong protest with Washington and summoned the US Chargé d’Affaires.

The Ministry of External Affairs said it had conveyed its deep concern over the use of lethal force against civilian shipping and stressed that attacks on commercial vessels undermine the safety, security and stability of international maritime commerce.

India has called for dialogue and diplomacy to ensure an early return to peace and stability in the region.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly defended the strikes. During a conversation with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday, Rubio maintained that the United States would not tolerate any violation of its blockade at the Strait of Hormuz.

According to AP, citing a senior US administration official, Trump is expected to discuss plans for demining the Strait of Hormuz with allies during the summit.

Britain and France, both G7 members, have reportedly expressed interest in helping secure and clear the strategic waterway once hostilities in the region are paused.

The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes and has been at the centre of heightened tensions in recent months.

In his departure statement, Modi described France as holding a special place in India’s strategic vision and highlighted the growing partnership between the two countries.

“France occupies a special place in India’s strategic vision. Earlier this year, President Macron visited India, and we elevated our relationship to a Special Global Strategic Partnership,” Modi said.

India and France maintain close defence ties, with India being a major customer of Dassault Aviation’s Rafale fighter jets.

After concluding his engagements in France, Modi will travel to Slovakia in what Indian officials have described as a historic visit.

India’s Ambassador to Slovakia, Apoorva Srivastava, said the visit would further strengthen bilateral ties.

The visit will be the first by an Indian prime minister to Slovakia since the country gained independence in 1993.