Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump shared a brief exchange on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France. The encounter marked the leaders’ first in-person interaction in 16 months, having last met face-to-face in February 2025. The two are expected to hold formal bilateral talks on Wednesday to address a long-awaited US-India trade deal, cross-sector cooperation, and critical regional and global matters.

Modi’s G7 itinerary included participating in a prominent working session titled “Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity.” Addressing G7 leaders, partner nations, and representatives from the World Bank and the African Development Bank, Modi advocated for transitioning away from a donor-recipient framework toward relationships anchored in equality and solidarity. Emphasizing trust in a highly interconnected era, he stated that India consistently champions a “humanity-first approach” and applies the philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’—meaning the world is one family. Through its regular G7 attendance, India aims to amplify the concerns of the Global South while contributing to global economic growth, sustainable development, peace, and security.

The highly anticipated Wednesday meeting between Modi and Trump unfolds against a backdrop of strained US-India ties. Diplomatic friction escalated following Operation Sindoor, Trump’s assertions of brokering a peace arrangement with Pakistan, and his administration’s imposition of tariffs on India and other nations. Washington’s overtures to Pakistan, reportedly a central player in Gulf war negotiations, have further chilled relations.

Tensions peaked last week over incidents in the Indian Ocean Region, sparking widespread public anger in India. American military attacks on commercial vessels off the Gulf of Oman resulted in three Indian casualties. In response, New Delhi twice summoned US charge d’affaires Jason Meeks to issue a demarche. Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar also formally protested the strikes during a call with his American counterpart, Marco Rubio. Defending the military action, the US State Department reported that Rubio informed Jaishankar that the illicit transport of Iranian oil through the Strait of Hormuz and breaches of the American blockade “will not be tolerated.” Rubio reiterated that commercial ships must strictly adhere to instructions from US forces operating in the area.

The broader G7 Summit arrives just days before the scheduled Friday signing of a US-Iran peace deal in Geneva. The agreement aims to end a prolonged Gulf conflict that began on February 28 and has severely disrupted the global economy. Aligning with these efforts, Trump met with leaders from Egypt, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to discuss the Iran agreement’s next phases. He also reportedly consulted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and fellow G7 leaders regarding a potential pact between Ukraine and Russia to end their ongoing war.

Beyond his interactions with Trump, Modi maintained a robust diplomatic schedule on the summit’s sidelines. He held bilateral meetings with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and attended a gala dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron. Prior to arriving in Evian, Modi stopped in Geneva to meet Swiss President Guy Parmelin. According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the two leaders reaffirmed their mutual dedication to the India-Switzerland partnership.