Trump, Modi discuss trade, safety of Indian sailors in Gulf region
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- Modi told Trump at the G7 summit in Evian, France, on June 17 that the safety of Indian seafarers working in the Strait of Hormuz was of "utmost importance" and must receive "the highest priority" during implementation of the U.S. peace agreement with Iran.
- Three Indian sailors were killed in attacks on commercial ships by the U.S. Navy in the Gulf, which has roiled relations again after Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited India last month seeking to repair them.
- Trump pledged the U.S. would defend India — "If they were attacked, we would be there to help them" — and called Modi "a tough negotiator" while announcing he would visit India "sometime in the future," a trip India has been pressing for months and could include Japan and Australia.
- U.S.-India ties have deteriorated since their February 2025 meeting, with Washington imposing high tariffs on Indian goods to punish New Delhi for purchasing Russian oil and engaging closely with India's arch-rival Pakistan.
- Trump deflected when asked if he offered condolences over the Indian sailors' deaths, telling reporters "it's a rough profession, there's no question about it."
Why it matters: The three Indian sailor deaths in U.S. Navy strikes had reignited tensions only a month after Secretary Rubio's trip to repair the relationship. By explicitly tying seafarer safety to implementation of the U.S.-Iran agreement, Modi converted a humanitarian grievance into a condition of a strategic deal — and Trump's defense pledge signals Washington wants the partnership on track despite the recent friction.
