India US relations

Donald Trump has announced plans to visit India in the near future following a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, signalling a renewed warming of ties between the two nations after months of diplomatic tensions. During discussions, Trump said the visit would happen “sometime in the future” and indicated that both countries were close to finalising a long-pending trade agreement. Relations between Washington and New Delhi had cooled after the US administration announced tariff measures on Indian goods last year, triggering trade friction between the strategic partners. The relationship faced fresh complications after three Indian sailors were killed in the Gulf of Oman during a US military strike targeting a tanker accused of violating restrictions on Iranian ports. During the summit meeting, Modi reportedly raised concerns over the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the strategically sensitive Strait of Hormuz. Trade negotiations were also part of the discussions, especially after recent US proposals to impose additional import taxes on countries, including India, over concerns related to forced labour compliance. Speaking to reporters, Trump described Modi as a “tough negotiator” and reiterated his intention to travel to India soon, potentially linked to a future Quadrilateral Security Dialogue meeting involving Japan and Australia. On defence ties, Trump stated that the US would support India if the country faced any attack, adding that his commitment was strongly tied to Modi’s leadership. The meeting came after a period of heightened tensions, with India summoning a senior US diplomat twice after the deaths of Indian sailors and attacks on tankers carrying Indian crew members. Within India, opposition parties criticised Modi for not directly condemning US military actions and urged him to raise the issue firmly with Trump. Addressing world leaders at the summit, Modi highlighted the ongoing Middle East crisis and stressed that global partnerships depend on trust, while also drawing attention to the deaths of Indian civilians and the urgent need to ensure maritime security. India, which imports nearly 90 percent of its oil requirements, remains vulnerable to disruptions caused by the conflict involving Iran and instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a route through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies typically pass. The meeting marked a notable improvement in the relationship between the two leaders since Modi’s last official visit to Washington in early 2025. Officials from both countries are now expected to meet in New Delhi next week to complete final negotiations on the proposed trade agreement. Over the past year, additional friction had emerged over Trump’s earlier claims regarding mediation in the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict and his comments on Kashmir, an issue on which India has consistently rejected third-party involvement. Immigration restrictions, particularly tighter rules around H-1B Visa Program, have also remained a point of concern for India. Source: BBC Photo Credit: Reuters