Kashmir Impulse Desk

Evian, June 16

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump exchanged greetings and held a brief interaction on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in France on Tuesday, setting the stage for formal bilateral discussions expected to focus on strategic, economic and geopolitical issues.

The encounter marked the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since their discussions in Washington earlier this year following Trump’s return to the White House for a second term.

Television footage from the summit venue showed Modi and Trump warmly greeting each other shortly after arriving for the gathering of leaders in the French city of Evian.

The two leaders were later seen seated next to one another during a roundtable session involving heads of state and government attending the summit.

Officials said Modi and Trump are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting on Wednesday on the margins of the summit, with discussions expected to cover a wide range of issues including trade, defence cooperation, technology partnerships and regional security developments.

The brief interaction attracted significant attention given the strategic importance of India-US relations and the evolving geopolitical environment in the Indo-Pacific region.

The United States remains one of India’s largest trading partners, while defence and technology cooperation have expanded substantially over the past decade.

The meeting also comes against the backdrop of ongoing global concerns relating to economic resilience, supply-chain security, emerging technologies and regional conflicts.

Although neither side disclosed details of Tuesday’s informal exchange, analysts said the forthcoming talks are likely to review progress made since Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this year.

The two countries have increasingly strengthened cooperation in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, clean energy, critical minerals, telecommunications and advanced manufacturing.

Defence cooperation is also expected to feature prominently in discussions.

India and the United States have expanded military-to-military engagement in recent years through joint exercises, defence agreements and collaboration in maritime security.

Regional developments in the Indo-Pacific, where both countries advocate a free, open and rules-based order, are also likely to be reviewed.

The leaders are expected to exchange views on developments in South Asia, the Middle East and the broader global security environment.

Trade issues could also receive attention amid efforts by both governments to deepen economic engagement and address outstanding market-access concerns.

Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown significantly over the last decade, with cooperation increasingly extending beyond traditional sectors into digital technology, innovation and green energy.

The Modi-Trump interaction comes as leaders attending the G7 summit deliberate on a range of global issues including economic growth, energy security, climate change, technological governance and international stability.

For New Delhi, the summit provides an opportunity to engage major economies on global challenges while advancing India’s strategic partnerships with key international players.

Wednesday’s bilateral meeting is expected to provide a clearer indication of the priorities that will shape India-US relations during Trump’s second presidential term and the next phase of cooperation between the world’s largest and oldest democracies.