New Delhi (India) June 17: Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump hold their first bilateral meeting in 16 months on the sidelines of the G7 Summit being held in France. The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the American President Donald Trump were seen standing next to each other during the customary G7 leaders' family photo session held yesterday.
Trump Calls Modi a Tough Leader
The US President Donald Trump had said that PM Modi is "a killer and a tough trader" after the bilateral meeting. Trump said he is a "great friend" of India and called the PM a highly respected man in Washington.
"As long as I am President, they (India) have a great friend in the White House. Everyone here loves India and they have tremendous respect for this man," he said.
Trump Assures Support in Crisis
Trump praised the defence relationship between India and the US, and called for support specifically for the PM Modi-led nation in times of conflict.
"I think it is a great relationship. If they were attacked, we would be there to help them. We don't have a contract, but if they are attacked and he (PM Modi) is the leader, we are going to be there to help. If anybody attacks that man, we are going to be there. If there is another leader, I don't know about that, but if they are attacked and he is the leader, we are going to help", Trump said.
Modi Raises Safety of Indian Seafarers
PM Modi said, " In the world of maritime trade, hundreds of thousands of Indian seafarers are performing their duties across global maritime trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, contributing heavily to global progress. Their safety is of the utmost importance to us," after his meeting with Trump.
"I am confident that the issue of seafarers' safety will receive the highest priority during the implementation of this agreement," he added.
PM Modi’s remarks were made after last week's deadly US attack on three vessels that contained Indian sailors off the coast of Oman. Three Indian sailors died in the attack.
Leaders Review Bilateral and Global Issues
The interaction between the leaders took place while the leaders had convened for the traditional gathering of world leaders hosted by the French President Emmanuel Macron. Photos released from the G7 summit show Indian Prime Minister Modi greeting US President Trump with a smile, and then taking seats next to the President, among the other world leaders present.
The interaction between the leaders is seen as one that would give the duo an opportunity to reassess how the relations between India and the USA has developed and talk about the regional and international problems which the two countries have in common.