Ahmedabad Times

President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that the US would assist India if the nation have been attacked whereas Prime Minister Narendra Modi remained in workplace, as the 2 leaders met for the primary time in 16 months on the margins of the G7 Summit in France in an effort to restore bilateral relations that witnessed unprecedented strains over the previous 12 months.

Modi praised Trump for his function in efforts to revive peace after the Iran-US battle and, towards the backdrop of the deaths of three Indian sailors in US assaults final week, pressed for measures to make sure the safety of seafarers whereas implementing the peace deal to be signed in Geneva on Friday. He contended that their final assembly in Washington in February 2025 imparted “new velocity and new power” to bilateral ties and that either side are working to attain the targets set final 12 months.

Although Modi and Trump have spoken a number of instances by telephone since their final assembly and briefly exchanged pleasantries at an outreach session of the G7 Summit in Evian on Tuesday, this was their first in-person assembly for the reason that Prime Minister travelled to Washington quickly after the President’s inauguration final 12 months. India-US ties fell to their lowest level in additional than 20 years when Trump slapped 50% tariffs on Indian exports, and the deaths of the Indian sailors in US strikes on service provider vessels off the coast of Oman forged a recent shadow on relations.

Trump provided to help India within the occasion of any assault when he was requested concerning the India-US defence relationship at a joint media interplay with Modi forward of their talks. “I feel it’s an ideal [defence] relationship. I can let you know this – with out having a contract, we don’t have a contract – but when they [India] have been attacked, we might be there to assist them. Is {that a} good assertion?”, he stated earlier than shaking arms with Modi.

“If anyone assaults that man [Modi]we’re going to be there. Now, if there’s a brand new chief, I’m undecided about it…but when they’re attacked and he’s the chief, we’re going to be there to assist,” he stated, earlier than noting that he had a “nice assembly” with President Xi Jinping throughout a go to to China final month.

Whereas emphasising his private relationship with Modi, Trump stated: “India can do something they need with us, we’ve the perfect relationship. We can’t be nearer than we’re…I don’t assume we could be any nearer. Each him [Modi] and I and our nations, nevertheless it actually begins with the 2 of us, we can’t be nearer.”

The US, he contended, has the world’s “strongest army”, which had effected a change of management in Venezuela in “48 minutes” after which “defeated Iran” within the first week of the battle. Trump’s remarks seemed to be aimed toward reassuring India amid his efforts to rebalance US relations with China.

In his opening remarks, Modi counseled Trump’s management of efforts to revive peace in West Asia and stated: “Because of your efforts, Mr President, new hope for peace and stability within the area has been kindled and we hope this may result in a long-standing peace within the area.”

He stated he and Trump agreed that protecting the Strait of Hormuz open is important for the worldwide financial system and famous that India has persistently emphasised the significance of freedom of navigation. “We must always work collectively and place specific emphasis on that,” he added.

Modi identified that tons of of hundreds of Indian seafarers are performing their duties throughout international maritime commerce routes, together with the Strait of Hormuz, and making an enormous contribution to the progress of the world, and that “their security is of utmost significance to us”. He added, “Mr President, you’ve got made super efforts in direction of reaching this understanding and I’m assured that this settlement will make sure the safety of seafarers and this situation will obtain precedence.”

This was the second time in two days that Modi raised the safety of Indian seafarers in Trump’s presence following US assaults on three service provider vessels with near 70 Indian crew members in waters off Oman final week. The exterior affairs ministry summoned essentially the most senior US diplomat twice to protest towards the assaults, and the problem was additionally raised by exterior affairs minister S Jaishankar in a telephone name together with his US counterpart Marco Rubio.

Trump responded to a query on whether or not he would provide any condolences to the households of the lifeless Indian seafarers by saying: “Yeah, I do. I heard about that. It’s a tough occupation…and we work collectively on it. This has been occurring all through time, however we work collectively. We love all of these folks. They’re nice folks.”

He additionally stated he believed India might play a task in West Asia: “I feel India performs a giant function in every part. So long as he’s [Modi] the chief, India’s going to play a giant function.”

Following the assembly, Modi stated in a social media publish that he and Trump “reviewed the sustained progress in our bilateral cooperation in commerce, power, defence, know-how and people-to-people ties”. Exterior affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated on social media that either side reiterated their dedication to work collectively to advance the India-US complete international strategic partnership for the good thing about the folks of each international locations and to “promote peace, stability and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific and past”.

Whereas Modi didn’t seek advice from ongoing negotiations for a bilateral commerce settlement with the US, Trump responded to a query on the problem by saying the 2 sides are “very shut” to a commerce deal.

“We’ve been there for a short while. He’s [Modi] a really robust negotiator, one of many hardest, really…He appears to be like so good, he’s like an angel however really, he’s robust, he’s a killer…He’s a tricky dealer and he loves the Indian folks, however he additionally loves the USA.”

Trump’s remarks got here forward of a go to to India by the US Commerce Consultant to take ahead negotiations on the commerce deal, which is aimed toward addressing points similar to US tariffs and market entry. He additionally indicated a willingness to supply extra alternatives to expert Indian professionals and promote extra power to India.

Requested about higher alternatives for Indian professionals within the US, Trump replied: “Oh, yeah, positive, I imply at all times. Yeah, we’ve at all times had super relationships when it comes to employment with India. Very gifted folks.”

Trump, who final visited India in February 2020 throughout his first time period, stated he could be “going to India someday sooner or later” however didn’t decide to particular dates for a go to. Whereas brushing apart a query that a few of his choices had resulted in hassle for the bilateral relationship, he insisted that so long as he was President, India would have a “nice pal within the White Home”.

With a US waiver on sanctions on Russian oil ending on Wednesday, Trump stated the US administration was wanting on the situation within the context of the autumn in international oil costs. “It’s actually tumbling. It’s, I suppose, $74-$75 proper now…It’s quickly going to be on the quantity that it was 4 months in the past…and on high of that, we may have an Iran with no nuclear weapon, which I can let you know the Prime Minister feels very strongly about too,” he stated.