Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed the situation in West Asia, maritime security concerns and the progress of India-US trade negotiations during a bilateral meeting held
on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The meeting came as PM Modi concluded a series of engagements at the G7 Summit, where he held discussions with several world leaders and participated in outreach sessions focused on global governance, connectivity and economic cooperation.
According to the MEA, 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.”
The leaders also discussed the implications of the crisis in West Asia for global trade and energy security.
PM Modi highlighted the importance of safeguarding key maritime routes amid continuing tensions in the region.
The MEA said the Prime Minister “underlined the importance of maintaining freedom of navigation and unimpeded commerce in the Strait of Hormuz and the need to ensure the safety of seafarers.”
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the world’s most important shipping corridors, and the issue has gained significance amid concerns over disruptions linked to the ongoing regional conflict.
Trade cooperation also featured prominently in the discussions.
The two leaders reviewed the status of negotiations aimed at concluding an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement between India and the United States.
According to the MEA, 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.”
In a further indication of the momentum in the talks, the ministry announced that “the US Trade Representative, Mr Jamieson Greer, will be visiting India next week in this connection.”
The Modi-Trump meeting was among several high-level bilateral interactions undertaken by the Prime Minister during the G7 Summit.
On the sidelines of the gathering, PM Modi also met leaders from the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Germany, the European Commission, the United Arab Emirates and Canada.
Before departing for Paris, PM Modi described his engagements at the Summit as “productive” and said they had provided an opportunity to present India’s views and initiatives on key areas of governance and policy-making.
During the Summit’s outreach session, PM Modi advocated stronger connectivity and trade links involving G7 nations, India and countries of the Global South.
He also raised concerns about the long-term impact of the West Asia crisis on developing economies.
Earlier, the Prime Minister urged world leaders to move beyond a donor-recipient model of international cooperation and instead build partnerships based on solidarity and equality.
He also stressed the importance of trust in international cooperation.
