At the White House in February, Trump called Modi a “great friend.” The handshake, framed for cameras, won applause from both crowds. Modi’s grin matched Trump’s theatrical flair. Diplomats, however, left puzzled, unsure if the bond would tighten or simply stay on the surface.
Now the G7 Summit in France, running June 15‑17 in Evian‑les‑Bains, may be the next stage for the duo. The agenda is already packed, but a pull‑aside could still bite the two leaders into a side conversation.
India doesn’t sit on the G7’s permanent seats, yet it lands a chair as a special invitee every year. French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation this time was no surprise; he’s been courting India as a key partner in Europe’s back‑up strategy.
The stuff that makes this meeting more than a friendly wave is the U.S.–India trade wrangle. Last year’s tariffs lit up the halls, and even now, the two agreed in February to hit $500 billion in trade by 2030. That promise feels out of steam as the two sides still battle on numbers, tariffs, and market access.
Trump’s unpredictable run means that a quick deal or a radio‑check sounds plausible. Meanwhile, Modi’s squad needs a solid push to wrest trade remedies, curb tariff spikes, and secure market padding for Indian exporters. Will a brief handshake now clear a wall of policy or merely keep a grin on screen?
