US-India relations ‘Stronger than ever’, says Trump, signals near-final trade deal with India

By R Anil Kumar

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a highly anticipated bilateral meeting on June 17, 2026 on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France. This marked their first face-to-face meeting in 16 months, occurring during a period of documented economic and diplomatic strain between the two nations.

Evian (France), June 17, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held bilateral talks on June 17, on the sidelines of the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Evian, focusing on strengthening cooperation across key strategic sectors.

US President Donald Trump, described United States–India relations as “stronger than ever” and said a trade agreement with New Delhi was “very close”, while also assuring that Washington would stand by India if it came under attack, underscoring the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian,France, Trump repeatedly praised bilateral ties and lauded the Indian leadership. “We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India,” he said, adding that “a lot of things are happening between the United States and India.”

Trump said negotiations on a trade deal were progressing steadily and suggested that both sides were close to a breakthrough. “We’re very close,” he said. “PM Modi is a very tough negotiator. He is one of the toughest, actually,” Trump added.

Praising PM Modi’s personality and leadership style, Trump said, “You look at this man. I’ll give you a lesson. He’s the most beautiful-looking man. He looks so nice. He’s like an angel. But actually, he’s a killer. He’s as tough as they come,” he said. He added that PM Modi often surprises people, noting, “People say he’s such a nice man. I said he’s very tough. He’s a tough negotiator.”

Highlighting his personal rapport with the Indian Prime Minister, the US President said, “He loves the Indian people, but he also loves the USA,” recalling past interactions between the two leaders, including the “Howdy Modi” event in Houston and his visit to India during his first term. “We had a great time in India,” he said, referring to the large public turnout during those engagements.

Underscoring the depth of the bilateral relationship, Trump said, “India can do anything they want with us. We have the best relationship. We cannot be closer than we are. I don’t think we can be any closer, both him and I, and our nations.”

Responding to questions on India’s role in West Asia, Trump said, “I do. I think India plays a big role in everything,” adding, “As long as he’s the leader, India’s going to play a big role.” On bilateral ties, he said, “As long as I’m President, they have a great friend in the White House,” noting that there was “tremendous respect” for India.

On defence cooperation, Trump said, “I think it’s a great relationship. If they were attacked, we would be there to help them,” adding, “If anybody attacks that man, we’re going to be there.”

He also expressed support for continued opportunities for skilled Indian professionals in the United States, saying, “Oh yeah, sure. I mean, always,” describing Indian talent as “very capable” and “very talented.”

On India’s energy needs, Trump said Washington would remain a reliable partner, stating, “India can do anything they want with us. We have the best relationship,” and adding, “We cannot be closer than we are.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in turn, said ties had gained momentum since their last meeting in Washington. “We had an extremely productive meeting in Washington last year, and since then we have given new speed and new energy to our relations,” he said, adding that the two sides were working together across multiple areas.

In a post on X, PM Modi said he was pleased to meet Trump and noted that both leaders reviewed steady progress in bilateral ties spanning various sectors.

“Pleased to meet President Trump in Evian. We reviewed the sustained progress in our bilateral cooperation in trade, energy, defence, technology and people-to-people tie”, the Prime Minister said on X.

He added: “Conveyed India’s appreciation on the progress in the efforts for restoring peace and stability in West Asia. Keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is vital for the global economy. Reiterated the importance of ensuring the safety and security of civilians, including seafarers.”

PM Modi also praised Trump’s efforts in West Asia, saying they had helped revive hopes for peace and stability in the region. “Thanks to your efforts, Mr. President, a new hope for peace and stability in the region has been rekindled, and I am confident that this will lead to long-standing peace in the region,” he said, while stressing the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global trade.

The United States and India have steadily expanded cooperation over the past two decades across defence, technology, energy, trade and strategic affairs. Both countries are also key partners in the Quad grouping, along with Australia and Japan, aimed at ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Key Highlights of the Bilateral Talks:

Praise and Persona: Trump showered praise on Modi, referring to him as “like an angel” while simultaneously characterizing him as a “total killer” and a “tough trader” due to his fierce negotiation skills.

Sailor Safety Strains: Modi directly confronted Trump regarding the critical safety of Indian seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz, following a highly controversial incident where three Indian sailors were killed due to US Navy maritime actions near Oman. Trump expressed sympathy regarding the casualties, stating he had been formally brief on the situation.

Trade and Tariffs Friction: While Trump claimed that a strategic trade deal was “very close”, underlying tensions remain high. Sticking points include high punitive US tariffs of up to 50% on Indian items, as well as a 25% US levy intended to punish India for purchasing Russian oil.

Future India Visit: Trump publicly accepted the importance of New Delhi ties and stated his explicit intention to visit India “sometime in the future”.

Defence Deliveries: The leaders discussed resolving the long-delayed procurement of US-made Apache helicopters, with Trump noting that progress is finally being achieved after a five-year wait.