Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to meet United States President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, amidst lingering tensions between the two nations. The meeting comes after Indian seafarers were caught in the line of fire in fighting between the US and Iran in the Gulf, resulting in the deaths of at least three Indians.
The US Navy had attacked several ships with Indians aboard, including the Palau-flagged MT Settebello, which came under attack by a US aircraft off the coast of Oman. The ministry of external affairs summoned the US Chargé d'Affaires Jason Meeks twice to lodge a strong protest against the continuing attacks.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar had also spoken to his American counterpart Marco Rubio to register a protest against the deaths of three Indian seafarers in US attacks on ships. However, Rubio said that the US will not tolerate any violations of its blockade of Iranian ports and that merchant shipping should comply with orders from American forces.
The meeting between Modi and Trump would also be the first one after the US President imposed a harsh 50 per cent tariff on India last year, which was later struck down by the US Supreme Court. India and the US are actively working on striking a bilateral trade deal, which is almost 99% done, according to the US ambassador to India Sergio Gor.
