US President Donald Trump showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, describing him as a "tough negotiator", a long-time friend and a leader under whom India is playing an increasingly important global role.
The meeting in Evian-les-Bains marked the first face-to-face interaction between the two leaders in more than 16 months and came amid ongoing discussions on a proposed interim trade agreement between New Delhi and Washington.
"Modi has been my friend for a long time," Trump said, adding that India enjoys "a great friend in the White House". He also described the Prime Minister as a "tough negotiator" and said India plays a significant role on the world stage "as long as Modi is the leader".
Trump said he had "very good conversations" with Modi and noted that India is spending substantial amounts in the United States. The US President also indicated that he plans to visit India in the future and reiterated his admiration for Modi, saying India has "tremendous respect" for its Prime Minister.
"We would help India if it were attacked," Trump said, underscoring Washington's commitment to its strategic partnership with New Delhi during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
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The remarks build on Trump's earlier praise for Modi's leadership and negotiating skills. In recent weeks, Trump had described the Indian Prime Minister as "calm", "cool" and a "total killer" in negotiations, while also commending his political resilience and leadership.
For his part, Modi highlighted the close coordination between Indian and US officials and underlined the importance of peace and stability in the Gulf region. "India-US teams are working in close coordination," he said during the interaction.
The Prime Minister stressed that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open remains critical for the global economy and maritime trade. "Opening of Hormuz is very crucial for the economy," Modi said, adding that the safety of hundreds of thousands of seafarers remains a key priority.
"Safety of Indian seafarers is important," Modi said, as tensions in the Gulf continue to draw international attention.
Modi also praised Trump's diplomatic efforts in West Asia, saying he "deeply commends" the US President's initiatives aimed at promoting peace in the region.
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The discussions between the two leaders covered trade, energy cooperation, visa-related issues and regional security concerns. Officials on both sides remain cautiously optimistic about progress on an interim trade arrangement that could strengthen economic ties between the world's largest and fifth-largest economies.
On broader geopolitical issues, Trump said he had held productive talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He also said the US was considering reimposing sanctions on Russia, with any decision likely to depend on developments in oil markets.
Addressing tensions involving Iran, Trump described the proposed US-Iran agreement as "a wall to a nuclear weapon" and asserted that Washington does not require European minesweepers in the Strait of Hormuz.
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