The meeting comes at a sensitive time for the relationship, with both sides navigating trade negotiations, US tariff measures, and growing concerns in New Delhi over recent US military strikes on commercial vessels along the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes killed three Indian seafarers.
They last met in February 2025 when Trump hosted Modi in Washington DC.
What will Trump, Modi discuss?
A senior US administration official had earlier indicated that Trump and Modi would discuss a possible bilateral trade deal, although no agreement is expected to be finalised during the summit. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is also scheduled to visit India after the G7 meeting for further talks.
Trade, visas and energy cooperation are expected to feature prominently in the discussions.
Modi is in France to attend the G7 Summit taking place from June 15 to 17.
Vessel strike concerns
The talks are also likely to be overshadowed by the deaths of three Indian sailors in a US strike on the tanker Settebello off the coast of Oman last week. India had summoned the US chargé d’affaires twice and lodged a strong protest over “lethal and deadly force against civilian shipping”.
The Ministry of External Affairs said such actions were “unacceptable” and undermined the safety and security of international maritime commerce in a sensitive region. New Delhi has also called for an immediate end to attacks on commercial vessels carrying Indian crew.
A total of three vessels carrying Indian crew members — MT Marivex, MT Settebello and MT Jalveer — were attacked as of last week.
The US CENTCOM has said American forces struck the vessels to enforce Washington’s blockade on Iranian oil exports.
