First Meeting In 16 Months: PM Modi & Trump Shake Hands, Sit Next To Each Other At G7 Summit; Bilateral Talks Likely Tomorrow

Evian: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met each other at the G7 Summit in Evian, France, on Tuesday, marking their first meeting in 16 months following prolonged trade tensions.

A video showed the two leaders smiling and warmly shaking hands with each others as they exchanged pleasantries at the Outreach Session of the G7 Summit. Both leaders then sat next to each other after the 20-second handshake.

Trump and PM Modi also posed with other world leaders for a group photo. They stood on either sides of French President Emmanuel Macron, who is hosting the Summit. The picture also captured European Council President Antonio Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.

The two leaders are set to hold bilateral talks tomorrow (Wednesday) on the sidelines of the Summit.

Tension Over Death Of Indian Crew Off Oman Coast

The meeting between Trump and PM Modi comes amidst tension between the two countries over the attack on a ship carrying 24 Indian crew members. While 21 Indians were rescued, three were declared dead. 

 The United States Central Command CENTCOM had admitted to attacking the Palau-flagged commercial ship Settebello in the Gulf of Oman for allegedly violating the ongoing blockade by attempting to transport oil from Iran.

In a post on X, CENTCOM said, “U.S. Central Command disabled Palau-flagged M/T Settebello as it transited the Gulf of Oman. A U.S. aircraft fired precision munitions into the ship’s engine room after the crew repeatedly failed to comply with directions from American forces. CENTCOM forces have disabled eight non-compliant vessels, redirected 134 ships that complied, and allowed 42 vessels supporting humanitarian aid to pass since initiating the blockade on April 13."

India has condemned the attack, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying, “We condemn the attack on the commercial vessel Settebello off the coast of Oman.”

“The targeting of commercial shipping and civilian infrastructure in the region must end, and free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the international waterways in the region in keeping with international law must be restored at the earliest,” the MEA added.

What Is The G7?

The G7, or Group of 7, is an intergovernmental political and economic forum. Its members are Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. The European Union has been involved in G7 work since 1977.

India attends the G7 Summit as a guest.