Modi–Trump meet after 16 months: Tight handshake at G7, no hug as tensions linger | WATCH

India–US ties came under fresh spotlight at the G7 summit in France after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met briefly after a gap of 16 months, exchanging only a handshake and a short exchange, without the familiar hug that had marked their earlier public interactions.

The two leaders were seen greeting each other indoors at Evian-les-Bains on the sidelines of the summit. The interaction remained limited to a firm handshake, with Trump briefly touching Modi’s elbow during the exchange.

The subdued body language comes at a time when the relationship between Washington and New Delhi has been navigating a series of irritants across trade, immigration, and geopolitical issues.

A key point of disagreement has been Trump’s repeated public remarks claiming he played a role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan during last year’s escalation. India has consistently rejected this narrative, reiterating that the de-escalation was handled directly between the two countries without third-party involvement.

Economic tensions have also played a role in the recent strain, with U.S. tariff actions on Indian goods and changes to visa-related costs, particularly affecting skilled migration pathways such as H-1B, adding pressure to bilateral engagement.

Despite these differences, diplomatic engagement has continued. Recent visits, including that of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to India, have helped reopen channels on trade talks, defence cooperation, and broader strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific region.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also remained engaged with U.S. counterparts on security-related concerns, including India’s objections to recent U.S. military strikes involving vessels off the coast of Oman that resulted in Indian casualties.

A fuller bilateral meeting is expected on the sidelines of the summit, where both sides are likely to review ongoing negotiations on trade, defence collaboration, and regional security priorities.

The G7 summit, bringing together the world’s major advanced economies along with the European Union, continues to serve as a platform for coordination on global economic and geopolitical challenges.

With PTI inputs