Modi and Trump to Meet at G7 Amid Trade Strains and Iran Conflict

The scheduled 2:45 pm session marks the first face-to-face engagement between the two leaders since the regional security landscape shifted following the outbreak of conflict in Iran. While the White House characterizes the meeting as part of a routine series of diplomatic engagements, the agenda is heavy with unresolved economic friction. US officials indicated that while a trade deal is not expected to be finalized during this visit, the leaders will assess the progress of negotiations, which hinge on India’s push for preferential tariff treatment.

Beyond bilateral trade, the G7 summit itself faces significant internal divisions. President Trump’s unilateral approach to the war in Iran—and his subsequent threats to withdraw US troops from France, Germany, the UK, and Italy—has strained relations with key European allies. The summit is expected to address the critical issue of demining the Strait of Hormuz, a move supported by France and Britain to restore tanker traffic halted by Iranian Revolutionary Guard activity. For India, the summit serves as a platform to represent the Global South, marking its eighth consecutive appearance as a guest nation.