U.S. President Donald Trump held a bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France. During the conversation, Trump announced that he would visit India in the future.
According to him, negotiations on a trade deal between the U.S. and India are also nearing completion.
Relations between the two countries had become strained last year following Trump's plan to impose tariffs on Indian products. Last week, the situation was further complicated by the death of three Indian sailors at the hands of U.S. forces in the Gulf of Oman.
During his meeting with Trump at the G7 summit, Modi raised the issue of the safety of Indian sailors operating in the Strait of Hormuz.
The sides also discussed negotiations on a trade deal. This process has slowed down because the U.S. has imposed new import tariffs on countries that are not taking sufficient measures against forced labor, including India.
In a conversation with journalists, Trump called Narendra Modi a "tough negotiator" and expressed his intention to visit India in the near future.
Also, speaking about U.S. defense cooperation with India, he emphasized that Washington is ready to provide assistance if the country faces an external threat.
"If someone attacks him, we will help. With a new leader, I cannot say that for sure right now," Trump said.
In India, opposition parties criticized Prime Minister Modi for not openly condemning U.S. actions. They demanded that he raise the issue firmly during his meeting with Trump.
In his speech at the G7 summit, Modi recalled that several Indian citizens had died due to the conflict in the Middle East and stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of sailors.
