--- description: U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have long enjoyed warm relations, but recent disputes have added tension ahead of their meeting at the G7 Summit. title: Trump and India’s Modi to Meet Amid Mounting Tensions image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd23d3812d5cf5e61/6a31cea170fc6a1db2f8644c/AP26167516947979.jpg?branch=production ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [India](/tag/india/) ## India Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Trump and India’s Modi to Meet Amid Mounting Tensions by [Rebecca Schneid](/author/rebecca-schneid/) and [T. Michelle Murphy](/author/t-michelle-murphy/) Jun 15, 2026 6:54 PM CUT  Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on June 16, 2026. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on June 16, 2026.Isabel Infantes—Photo Pool via AP by [Rebecca Schneid](/author/rebecca-schneid/) and [T. Michelle Murphy](/author/t-michelle-murphy/) Jun 15, 2026 6:54 PM CUT President Donald [Trump](https://time.com/collection/100-most-influential-people/2026/donald-trump/ "undefined") and Indian Prime Minister Narendra [Modi](https://time.com/collections/100-most-influential-people-2020/5888327/narendra-modi-india/ "undefined") have long enjoyed a convivial working relationship, a dynamic that was fully on display when [Modi visited the White House](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-statements/2025/02/united-states-india-joint-leaders-statement/ "undefined") in February 2025, shortly after Trump took office for the second time. But there may be a noticeable tonal shift during their scheduled meeting Wednesday at the [Group of Seven (G7) Summit](https://time.com/7293958/g7-summit-kananaskis-canada/ "undefined") in France’s Evian-les-Bains. New issues have heightened tensions between India and the U.S.—most recently, that includes the deaths of three Indian sailors in the Strait of Hormuz. ## **New sources of friction** Strain between the two world leaders became apparent in May 2025, when Trump attempted to take credit for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan—a claim that [India disputes](https://time.com/7296429/pakistan-nominate-trump-nobel-peace-prize-win-india-conflict/ "undefined"). In ensuing months, steep tariffs added tension to the two nations’ relationship, with effective tariff rates on some Indian exports briefly reaching 50% in late 2025\. While U.S. courts invalidated many of Trump’s tariffs in February, which could have eased some friction, the issue was renewed June 2 when Trump threatened an additional 12.5% tariff on exports to the U.S. for 60 economies, including India. **Read more:**[_Trump and Iranian Official Sign Agreement to Stop Fighting, Reopen Strait of Hormuz_](https://time.com/article/2026/06/14/iran-peace-talks-israeli-strikes-beirut-trump/ "undefined") And then there is the U.S.-Iran War, the ramifications of which affect every G7 attendee and are likely to be a leading topic of conversation at the summit. But India is dealing with a more personal grievance after losing three of its own in military operations last week. Iran restricted the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20 percent of the world's oil usually flows, in February in retaliation for U.S. and Israel’s attacks, and later in April as a tactical measure in protest of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon. The U.S. military then [began its own blockade](https://time.com/article/2026/04/15/amid-trump-s-blockade-threat-of-escalation-leaves-thousands-of-u-s-forces-on-high-alert/ "undefined") with the aim of pressuring Iran to both reopen the trade route and engage in peace talks. U.S. Central Command claimed that the three Indian-crewed tankers struck in the strait last week had been violating it. ## **Outcry in India** Modi is fielding increasing pressure from opposition leaders to take a firmer stance with the U.S. President following the deaths of Indian seafarers on June 10\. Indian National Congress leaders have demanded that he bring it up with Trump this week, [according to local media](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/will-modi-take-up-sailor-deaths-with-trump-asks-congress/articleshow/131730590.cms "undefined"). “America knew Indian crew members were on board, yet it carried out the strike,” said Supriya Shrinate, national spokesperson for Congress. “India has nothing to do with this war, yet our people were killed.” External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also said in a [statement](https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2065518118802461072 "undefined") that “such lethal actions against commercial shipping are not justified.” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, called for the attacks to “cease and end” in a [press briefing](https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZcZVvKIi5I/ "undefined") last week. The foreign ministry [summoned](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/6/10/india-summons-us-envoy-over-ship-attack-that-left-three-indians-missing "undefined") a U.S. diplomat to discuss the incident. Indian lawmakers and trade union representatives also demanded consequences. The Centre for Indian Trade Unions [called](http://citucentre.org/ "undefined") for a “full and independent international investigation into these attacks” and further protections for maritime workers. But Secretary of State Marco Rubio has defended the U.S.’s actions. He told Jaishankar in a call on [Friday](https://www.state.gov/releases/office-of-the-spokesperson/2026/06/secretary-rubios-call-with-indian-external-affairs-minister-jaishankar-4 "undefined") that “violations of the U.S. blockade and the illicit transport of Iranian oil will not be tolerated.” Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition party, called Modi “[silent](https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/2066030716044063006?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2066030716044063006%7Ctwgr%5E7308d9650f5ed5eacff3f5edac1a54273333e6a4%7Ctwcon%5Es1%5F&ref%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2Findia%2Flike-an-obedient-servant-rahul-gandhis-swipe-at-pm-modi-over-us-remarks-after-killing-of-three-indian-sailors%2Farticleshow%2F131716261.cms "undefined")” in a critical social media post. Separately, he [wrote](https://x.com/RahulGandhi/status/2065352658509025504 "undefined") that Modi would “smile, hug, and make compromises” at G7. “But for those three Indians, he won't have a word to spare,” the post continued. **Read more:** [_The U.S. and India Are Quietly Patching Things Up_](https://time.com/7320424/us-india-trade-trump-modi/ "undefined") ## **What’s at stake at the G7** How and if Trump and Modi choose to address the seafarers’ deaths amid other highly charged topics at the G7 will likely shape the two countries’ relations going forward. India has participated in the G7 Summit as a special guest for the past 13 years, while Modi’s arrival early Tuesday marked his seventh consecutive year of attendance. This year, Indian officials have indicated that his meeting with Trump will focus on the two nations’ bilateral trade agreement—although, [Reuters reported](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-meet-with-middle-east-leaders-attend-ukraine-session-g7-us-officials-say-2026-06-13/ "undefined"), the agreement is not expected to be finalized in France. Instead, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will travel to India next week to continue discussions. Indian officials have also said that the two will likely discuss energy security, according to [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-meet-with-middle-east-leaders-attend-ukraine-session-g7-us-officials-say-2026-06-13/ "undefined"), and the potential purchase of Venezuelan oil from the U.S. The pursuit of a promising trade deal is one of many reasons the Prime Minister might choose to avoid some of these more sensitive issues and instead lean on the warm relationship that he and Trump have enjoyed in the past—but it’s a move that would likely embolden his critics at home. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/06/16/trump-modi-meet-amid-mounting-tensions/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/article/2026/06/16/trump-modi-meet-amid-mounting-tensions/"},"headline":"Trump and India’s Modi to Meet Amid Mounting Tensions","datePublished":"2026-06-15T18:54:57.000Z","dateModified":"2026-06-16T22:50:43.293Z","description":"U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have long enjoyed warm relations, but recent disputes have added tension ahead of their meeting at the G7 Summit.","url":"https://time.com/article/2026/06/16/trump-modi-meet-amid-mounting-tensions/","keywords":["India","G7","U.S.","trump","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd23d3812d5cf5e61/6a31cea170fc6a1db2f8644c/AP26167516947979.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Rebecca Schneid","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/rebecca-schneid/"},{"@type":"Person","name":"T. 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