EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France — Despite mounting tensions between the United States and India, President Donald Trump made a point of showering Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi with praise during their meeting at the G7 summit Wednesday, calling him a loyal friend even as the two nations navigate disagreements over trade, oil sanctions, and a recent American military strike that took the lives of three Indian sailors.
The face-to-face meeting took place just one week after those three Indian mariners were killed when a tanker was struck in the Gulf of Oman during a U.S. blockade aimed at cutting off oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. India’s Foreign Ministry has filed a formal protest over the incident.
The two leaders sat down together on the sidelines of the G7 gathering, where Modi was among a group of leaders attending as a guest of French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the summit.
Trump repeatedly brushed aside any notion of friction between Washington and New Delhi, piling on compliments for Modi and calling him a tough negotiator.
“We have the best relationship. We cannot be closer than we are. Would you say that, sir? I don’t think we can be any closer,” Trump said, reaching over to take Modi’s hand. “Both him and I, and our nations. But it really starts with the two of us.”
When Modi addressed reporters, he brought up the deadly strike directly. He pointed out that hundreds of thousands of Indian citizens work aboard vessels around the world, including in the Strait of Hormuz. “Their safety is of utmost importance to us,” Modi said. He also thanked Trump for his role in brokering an end to the conflict with Iran, saying, “You made tremendous efforts towards reaching this understanding and this agreement, and I’m confident that the issue of seafarers will receive the highest priority during the implementation of this agreement.”
When a reporter asked Trump to offer words of condolence to the families of the killed mariners, he responded: “It’s a tough profession. There’s no question about it. And we work together on it.” He added, “We love all of those people. They’re great people.”
Trump and Modi built a notably warm bond during Trump’s first term in office. In 2020, Trump visited India for two days and was impressed by a massive rally Modi organized in his honor at a cricket stadium. Earlier that year, Trump had joined Modi at the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston, which drew a large turnout from the Texas Indian community.
This time around, however, the relationship has been complicated by Russia’s war in Ukraine and ongoing trade friction. The Trump administration imposed heavy tariffs on Indian goods last year, in part due to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil. While the two countries reached a temporary trade agreement, negotiations on a more comprehensive deal are still underway.
On Wednesday, Trump said a new trade deal is “very close” and described Modi in colorful terms as a formidable negotiator. “He’s the most beautiful looking man. He looks so nice. He’s like an angel. But actually, he’s as tough as — he’s a killer,” Trump said.
