Paris/New Delhi, June 18: United States President Donald Trump showered praise on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, describing Modi as a strong leader and expressing confidence in India’s growing global influence.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Trump said India would continue to play a major role on the world stage under Modi’s leadership. “As long as he is the leader, India is going to play a big role,” Trump remarked, underlining the close personal rapport between the two leaders.
The U.S. President also sought to reassure India about the strength of bilateral ties, stating that “everyone in the White House loves India” and that New Delhi has “a great friend in the White House.” The comments come amid ongoing negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement and growing strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The Trump-Modi meeting focused on trade, investment, defence cooperation, energy security, and regional developments. Both leaders discussed ways to expand economic engagement and strengthen collaboration in the Indo-Pacific region.
Trump indicated that negotiations on an interim trade deal were progressing positively and suggested that both sides were close to reaching an agreement. The proposed deal is expected to address market access, tariff issues, and non-tariff barriers while laying the groundwork for a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement.
Political observers view Trump’s remarks as a significant signal of Washington’s desire to deepen engagement with New Delhi at a time when India is emerging as a key economic and strategic partner of the United States.
The meeting is expected to provide fresh momentum to India-U.S. relations, with both governments emphasizing cooperation in trade, technology, defence manufacturing, and global security issues.
“India is a great country, and Prime Minister Modi is doing a tremendous job,” Trump said, reiterating his confidence in the future of the partnership between the world’s two largest democracies.
