Highlights:
- Trump and Modi instructed officials to finalize a trade agreement at the earliest.
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will visit India next week for trade talks.
- Both leaders reviewed progress under the India-US COMPACT initiative.
- Modi praised Trump’s efforts to restore peace and stability in West Asia.
- The meeting aimed to rebuild ties strained by tariffs, visa policies, and diplomatic disagreements.
President Donald Trump and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi directed their officials to work toward a balanced, mutually beneficial, and commercially meaningful trade agreement at the earliest during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-Les-Bains, France.
The discussions marked the first wide-ranging talks between the two leaders in 16 months and represented an effort to rebuild bilateral ties that had faced several challenges over the past year.
According to the Indian ministry of external affairs, Modi and Trump reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors for the benefit of both countries and their citizens.
"The leaders noted with particular satisfaction the significant progress made in negotiations towards an interim bilateral trade agreement and instructed their officials to work towards a balanced, mutually beneficial, and commercially meaningful agreement at the earliest," the Indian ministry said in a statement.
The two countries have already conducted several rounds of negotiations on the proposed trade pact. In a move aimed at advancing the discussions, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India next week.
During the meeting, Modi referred to his previous meeting with Trump in Washington, DC, in February last year and said it had brought renewed momentum to the bilateral relationship.
Modi also praised Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East.
"Prime Minister Modi commended President Trump for his efforts that had resulted in an understanding to end the ongoing conflict in West Asia and restore peace and stability across the broader region," added Indian ministry.
Modi also emphasized the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and uninterrupted commercial activity in the Strait of Hormuz, while highlighting the need to ensure the safety of seafarers.
The meeting took place amid growing concern in India following the deaths of three Indian crew members aboard a merchant vessel during American military strikes in the Gulf of Oman.
The MEA said both leaders reviewed progress made under the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) initiative since their meeting in Washington in February 2025.
"The two leaders reviewed the substantial progress achieved under the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) since their meeting in Washington, DC in February 2025," the MEA said.
"They welcomed key developments across the defence, strategic technologies, energy, and bilateral trade sectors," it added.
The COMPACT initiative is designed to drive significant cooperation across several key areas.
India-US relations had come under strain after Washington imposed punitive tariffs on India and following Trump’s repeated claims that he played a role in de-escalating the India-Pakistan military clashes of May 2025. New Delhi maintained that the cessation of hostilities resulted from direct talks between India and Pakistan and that US involvement played no role.
Additional tensions emerged over Washington’s immigration policies and its decision to increase H1B visa fees. Despite these differences, both countries have worked in recent months to improve relations and move closer to finalizing a trade agreement.
A US military image of the strike on the vessel off OmanUS Centcom