THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

Trump and India’s Modi to Meet Amid Mounting Tensions - TIME President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have long enjoyed a convivial working relationship, a dynamic that was fully on display when Modi visited the White House 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 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 . 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. fo…

The United States Is Losing India U.S. President Donald Trump (right) shakes hands with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he is introduced to the podium at the “Howdy Modi” rally at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Sept. 22, 2019. In 2019, U.S. President Donald Trump stood alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the “Howdy Modi” rally in Houston. The atmosphere was electric. Indian Americans cheered, and New Delhi appeared fully invested in the Trump presidency. Trump’s popularity in India eclipsed that of his successor Joe Biden and even Biden’s vice president, Kamala Harris, who is herself of Indian ancestry. Trump’s re-election in 2024 thus seemed like the beginning of a new, stronger chapter in India-U.S. relations. That chapter is now closing fast. India is beginning to question the value of its strategic alignment with Washington. And the United States is handing it every reason to do so. On July 25, when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Washington todiscuss trade and critical minerals, New Delhi took notice. This was not the first time a high-level engagement with Pakistan had stirred …

Trump says he will visit India as frosty relationship with Modi thaws Trump said it would take place "sometime in the future", adding India and the US were close to agreeing a trade deal Audio By Vocalize US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump promised to visit India during a bilateral meeting at the G7 summit in France, signalling a thawing of relations between the two countries. Trump said it would take place "sometime in the future", adding India and the US were close to agreeing a trade deal. Relations between the two superpowers came under strain after Trump announced his plans to impose tariffs on India last year. The killing of three Indian sailors by the US military last week further complicated the relationship. The sailors were killed in the Gulf of Oman in a strike after the US military targeted a tanker which it accused of violating its blockade on Iranian ports. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the safety of Indian sailors working in the Strait of Hormuz with Trump during their meeting at the G7 summit. The pair also discussed their efforts to reach a trade deal - negotiations which were set back by a recent U…

US-India relations ‘cannot be closer’, says Trump, signals near-final ... Top Stories of the Day Share DD India June 18, 2026 12:54 AM IST US-India relations ‘cannot be closer’, says Trump, signals near-final trade deal with India Author: DD India US President Donald Trump on Wednesday described United States–India relations as “stronger than ever” and said a trade agreement with New Delhi was “very close”, while also assuring that Washington would stand by India if it came under attack, underscoring the deepening strategic partnership between the two countries. In a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Trump repeatedly praised bilateral ties and lauded the Indian leadership. “We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India,” he said, adding that “a lot of things are happening between the United States and India.” Trump said negotiations on a trade deal were progressing steadily and suggested that both sides were close to a breakthrough. “We’re very close,” he said. “PM Modi is a very tough negotiator. He is one of the toughest, actually,” Trump added. Praising PM Modi’s personality and leadershi…

Modi reports US-India trade progress after Trump meeting <p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said there had been “significant progress” in long-running talks with Washington for a trade deal, according to a statement issued on Thursday after his meeting with United States President Donald Trump.</p> <p>The leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian in France on Wednesday, their first face-to-face talks since February 2025 in Washington.</p> <p>“The leaders noted with particular satisfaction the significant progress made in negotiations towards an interim bilateral trade agreement”, a readout of the meeting from India’s foreign ministry read.</p> <figure class='media w-full w-full media-- media--embed media--uneven media--tweet' data-original-src='https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2067286167096295678'> <div class='media__item media__item--twitter '><span> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"> <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/2067286167096295678"></a> </blockquote> </span></div> </figure> <p>Asked if the US and India are close to a trade deal, Trump told reporters in Evian that they were “very clos…

India-US ties: US envoy pick Sergio Gor on Trump-Modi friendship ... Calling the friendship between Donald Trump and Narendra Modi "unique",US ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gorpointed out that even when the US President has been critical of India, he has gone out of his way to compliment the Indian Prime Minister. Speaking at his confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee,Gor, a close aide of Trump, said that despite the present "hiccups" in ties, the two leaders share an incredible relationship. "Our President has a deep friendship with Prime Minister Modi, which is unique," the 38-year-old Gor, who will also oversee US relations with other South and Central Asian countries, said. "If you have noticed, when Trump goes after other nations, he tends to go after their leaders for putting us in that position and for the United States imposing those tariffs. When the President has been critical of India, he goes out of his way to compliment Modi," he further said. Gor's remarks are emblematic of the shift in US tone on India after weeks of caustic remarks by Trump and his officials, especially by White House trade advisor Peter Navarro. The US's softene…

Modi's American embrace backfires badly on India - Asia Times India-US ties have entered a fraught and intricate phase, marked by tensions that challenge India’s long-cherished strategic autonomy. Once overly hyped as a burgeoning partnership of mutual benefit, the Indo-US relationship is now strained by diplomatic pressures, economic threats and a shifting global order. India’s signing of four foundational US defense agreements—the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), the Industrial Security Annex (ISA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)—positioned it as a strategic partner and ally. However, these agreements, coupled with increasing US trade pressure under President Donald Trump, have raised serious questions about India’s ability to maintain an independent foreign policy. This article critically examines the trajectory of US-India relations, the carrot-and-stick approach of Trump’s policies, the myth of India’s strategic autonomy and the challenges India faces in navigating a multipolar world. It argues that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pro-American tilt has miscalculated In…

Are India-U.S. Relations Entering a Difficult Phase? - South Asian Voices At a mediabriefingon May 13, India’s Ministry of External Affairs dismissed President Donald Trump’sclaimsof having “mediated” a “full and immediate ceasefire” between New Delhi and Islamabad. The deal was “bilaterally reached,” it said. A day later, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankartoldreporters there was “absolutely no change” in New Delhi’s long-standing position that all dealings with Pakistan would be “strictly bilateral.” Trump had announced the India-Pakistan ceasefire and the U.S. role in brokering it on May 10. Soon after, India’s Foreign Secretary Vikram Misriannouncedat a special briefing that the Director General of Military Operations of Pakistan had initiated a call with his Indian counterpart and both sides agreed to “stop all firing and military action on land and in the air and sea.” He made no mention of the United States. This, however, did not restrain Trump fromrepeatedlyclaiming thereafter that the U.S. had brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. During his ongoing Middle East tour, Trumpsaidin Saudi Arabia that he “used trade to a large extent” to broker the ceasefire. Howev…

Donald Trump was once India's best friend. How did it all go wrong? The Conversation; Michael Wyke/AP Just months into President Donald Trump’s second term in office, one of the United States’ most important strategic partnerships is in crisis. Relations between the US and India are at their lowest ebb in a quarter of a century . Things are so bad that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly refused to accept calls from Trump for more than two months. In recent days, Trump labelled trade ties with India a “ totally one-sided disaster ” and a report emerged that he is no longer planning to visit India later this year for a summit of the Quad partners (India, the US, Australia and Japan). So bad, so quickly Things were not meant to happen this way. Many in New Delhi were delighted when Trump won the election last year. Modi congratulated his “friend” on X, along with pictures of the two embracing and holding hands. India’s foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, told journalists that while other countries might be “nervous” about Trump’s return, India was not. Feeling confident, Modi went to Washington to meet Trump days after his return to office. The encounter did not go well.…

'US-India relationship at lowest point in 30 years,' says Democrat ... Listen to this article in summarized format Listen Loading... × × Subscribe to Unlock AI Briefing and Premium Content New Year Offer 24 Hours Left Subscribe Now Already a member? Sign In What's Included Exclusive Stories Daily ePaper Access Smart Market Tools Curated Investment Ideas Ad-lite Experience Subscription 'US-India relationship at lowest point in 30 years': Congressman Ro Khanna slams Trump's policies In a sharp critique of Washington's foreign policy, Democrat Congressman Ro Khanna on Monday (local time) claimed that under current President Trump US-India relationship had deteriorated to its lowest point in three decades. Addressing the IX USISPF Leadership Summit 2026 in Washington, DC, Khanna refused to "mince words" regarding the current state of global affairs. He argued that the Trump administration's "unilateral" actions, specifically its aggressive policies toward Iran, have been utterly destructive to global stability and have directly harmed India by driving up domestic gas prices, a reality he noted could be confirmed by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. Also read: 'It's in las…

U.S.-India embrace turns to transactional tension - GIS Reports Tariffs and shifting relations with Pakistan, along with uncertainties about the Quad, cast doubt on the once-robust U.S.-India partnership. Aug. 1, Mumbai, Maharashtra: Students display a poster featuring Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi alongside U.S. President Donald Trump. © Getty Images × In a nutshell India’s Russia ties, especially military, are a point of friction for the U.S. U.S.-India trade gaps highlight untapped potential in economic relations Current leadership dynamics make long-term strategic cooperation difficult For comprehensive insights, tune into our AI-powered podcast here This is part 1 of GIS’s series on U.S.-South Asia relations. Part 2 is available here . Despite the occasional warm exchanges of praise between United States President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media and the periodic meetings among high-level officials, the relationship between the two countries is facing its toughest headwinds in decades. India is no longer viewed as America’s key partner for the 21st century and now finds itself sidelined from the second Trump administration’s initiativ…

No Hug, Just Handshake: Modi's Silent Message to Trump T hree Indian Deaths, One Powerful Gesture: Modi's Message Diplomacy is often communicated through words, but sometimes the strongest messages are delivered without saying a single sentence. Advertisement At the G7 Summit 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's brief handshake with US President Donald Trump grabbed global attention. The moment stood out because it broke a familiar pattern. For years, Modi's warm hugs with world leaders became a symbol of India's friendly diplomacy. This time, however, there was no hug only a handshake. Was it merely protocol, or was India quietly sending a powerful signal to Washington? A Handshake That Spoke Volumes A brief handshake between PM Modi and President Trump becomes the focus of global attention. Unlike previous meetings marked by warm embraces, Modi greeted Trump with a simple handshake at the G7 Summit. The change instantly caught the attention of diplomats, analysts, and media outlets worldwide. In international politics, body language often carries significant meaning. While neither side officially described the gesture as unusual, many observers viewed it as a subtle indication o…

Trump says US-India ties 'cannot be closer' Trump says US-India ties ‘cannot be closer’ By: IANS On: Wednesday, June 17, 2026 8:45 PM Google News Follow Us Evian (France), June 17 (IANS) US President Donald Trump on Wednesday described the “United States-India relations as stronger than ever”, and said a trade agreement with New Delhi was “very close”, as well as declared that the United States would help India if it came under attack, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two countries. Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump repeatedly highlighted the strength of bilateral ties and praised PM Modi’s leadership. “We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India,” Trump said. “A lot of things are happening between the United States and India.” Trump said negotiations on a trade agreement were advancing and suggested the two sides were nearing a breakthrough. “We’re very close,” he said. “He’s a very tough negotiator. He’s one of the toughest, actually.” The US President praised PM Modi’s negotiating skills while noting the close personal relationship between the two leaders. “He…

From Warm Hugs to Formal Handshakes : Can Modi-Trump Talks Revive India ... New York : Body language often offers subtle clues about the state of relationships between world leaders. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump met at the G7 Summit after a gap of 16 months, the interaction appeared noticeably more restrained than in the past. The signature bear hug that had become a hallmark of their meetings was absent, replaced by a formal handshake, with Trump briefly patting Modi on the arm. Earlier, during the group photo session, there was also no visible exchange of greetings or eye contact between the two leaders. The overall optics sparked speculation that the traditionally warm rapport between Modi and Trump may be facing some strain. Despite recent tensions, there is still hope that India-US relations could regain momentum, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump scheduled to hold their first in-person bilateral meeting since February 2025 on Wednesday. Modi was among the earliest global leaders to meet Trump following his election victory. However, relations between the two countries have since faced challenges, including the …

SOS messages from Mideast seas plunge India-US ties into choppy waters The US military killed three Indian soldiers last week when it fired on a vessel while enforcing a US naval blockade, the latest in a series of setbacks for US-India ties. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit this week, the two leaders will seek to reset bilateral relations. But for Modi, it might be too little, too late.

The Trump administration needs a strategic reset with India Today, a 50 p ercent tariff on most Indian goods went into effect, the latest evidence of how the Trump administration’s attempts at trade diplomacy with India have quietly unraveled into a broader strategic standoff. This development risks compromising decades of work under Republican and Democratic administrations that sought to build a durable US-India strategic relationship to serve, among other things, as a counterweight to a rising China. In its pursuit of a narrowly framed “trade deal,” the administration has overreached, alienating a key partner. In doing so, it has underestimated both the structural sensitivities of the Indian economy and the strategic implications of overreliance on coercive diplomacy. This deterioration did not arise from a singular policy failure but rather from a pattern: a belief that India, like Japan and the European Union (EU), would ultimately make major concessions affecting sensitive domestic constituencies under US pressure. That miscalculation has proven costly. Unlike Tokyo and Brussels, New Delhi proved unwilling to sacrifice core economic interests or domestic political capital fo…

Trump Says US-India Ties 'Cannot Be Closer' | World Evian (France): US President Donald Trump on Wednesday described the “United States-India relations as stronger than ever”, and said a trade agreement with New Delhi was “very close”, as well as declared that the United States would help India if it came under attack, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two countries. Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump repeatedly highlighted the strength of bilateral ties and praised PM Modi’s leadership. “We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India,” Trump said. “A lot of things are happening between the United States and India.” Trump said negotiations on a trade agreement were advancing and suggested the two sides were nearing a breakthrough. “We’re very close,” he said. “He’s a very tough negotiator. He’s one of the toughest, actually.” The US President praised PM Modi’s negotiating skills while noting the close personal relationship between the two leaders. “He loves the Indian people, but he also loves the USA,” Trump said. Prime Minister Modi said the two countries …

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi talks to U.S. President Donald Trump during the G-7 summit at Evian, France, June 16, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’smeetingwith U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in France on June 17 was supposed to stabilize relations that have been troubled over the past year. Trump was effusive in his praise of Modi. Hetoldreporters that the two leaders share “a great relationship” and that India had “a great friend in the White House” as long as he was president. However, there is little reason for India to believe that India-U.S. relations will go back to the strong partnership that existed before Trump returned for his second term. Trump did reassure India on defense support. “I can tell you this – without having a contract, we don’t have a contract – but if they (India) were attacked, we would be there to help them,” he said, adding, “If anybody attacks that man [Modi], we’re going to be there.” It wasn’t immediately clear who Trump was referring to as India’s adversary. India is not atreaty allyof the United States, although it has agreements in place since 2005 that have deepened defense cooperation. U.S. ships …

Modi and Trump Meet at G7: Formal Handshake and Stinging Trust Remarks ... Home News Modi and Trump Meet at G7: Formal Handshake and Stinging Trust Remarks... News Modi and Trump Meet at G7: Formal Handshake and Stinging Trust Remarks Reveal Deep Rifts By Himanshi Srivastava June 17, 2026 0 146 Share Facebook X Pinterest WhatsApp - Advertisement - - Advertisement - G7 Summit : Cold Body Language, Stinging Remarks Signal Deep Strain in Modi-Trump Bilateral Talks Evian, France — A missing gesture often speaks volumes in international diplomacy. When Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump came face-to-face at the G7 Summit on Tuesday—their first meeting in 16 months—the trademark, enthusiastic bear hug that once defined their personal chemistry was entirely absent. Add businessleague.in as a Preferred Source Instead, the two leaders exchanged a formal, heavily restrained handshake. Observers noted a distinct lack of eye contact during the group photo session, signaling a relationship under severe geopolitical and economic strain as they head into crucial bilateral talks on Wednesday evening. Most Popular : – The Border Transit Mandate: Analyzing Iran World Cup Tea…

Trump: US-India Ties 'Cannot Be Closer', Trade Deal Near India News Updated Jun 17, 2026 Trump Declares US-India Ties 'Cannot Be Closer,' Trade Deal Near US President Donald Trump described US-India relations as stronger than ever during a meeting with PM Modi at the G7 summit. Trump stated that a trade agreement with India is "very close" and praised Modi's negotiating skills. He also declared that the US would help India if it came under attack, underscoring the growing strategic partnership. PM Modi commended Trump's efforts for peace in West Asia and emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open. I IANS Jun 17, 2026 · 3 min read · 213 views Save Listen Copy Trump says US-India ties 'cannot be closer' Evian, June 17 US President Donald Trump on Wednesday described the "United States-India relations as stronger than ever", and said a trade agreement with New Delhi was "very close", as well as declared that the United States would help India if it came under attack, underscoring the growing strategic partnership between the two countries. Meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump repeatedly highlighte…