Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday raised the issue of seafarers’ safety with US President Donald Trump, urging that their protection be given the highest priority during the implementation of Washington’s peace deal with Iran, even as the two leaders focused on taking steps to repair bilateral ties that witnessed severe strain over the past year.The meeting between the two leaders on the margins of the G7 summit in the French commune came amid increasing outrage in India over the killing of three Indian crew members of a merchant ship in American military strikes.
Trump, describing New Delhi as a trusted partner, said the US will defend India if anyone attacks it.In his televised comments, Prime Minister Modi complimented Trump for his efforts towards ending the West Asia conflict and brought up the issue of the safety of lakhs of Indian seafarers operating in key maritime zones.
The Prime Minister hoped that the peace deal with Iran would have provisions for the security of the seafarers.
“Mr President, you and I agree that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open is vital for the global economy. India has consistently emphasised the importance of ensuring freedom of navigation and we should work together on it,” he said.
The Prime Minister, then, underlined the importance of the safety of seafarers.
“Hundreds of thousands of Indian seafarers are working across the global maritime trade routes and their safety is of utmost importance to us. You made tremendous efforts towards reaching this understanding (peace agreement with Iran). I am confident that the issue of safety of seafarers will receive the highest priority in the implementation of this agreement,” he said.
In his remarks, Trump described the meeting as “great” and heaped praise on Modi. The US president, without giving any timeline, said he will travel to India.
“People say he is such a nice man. I said he’s very very tough. He’s a tough negotiator, and he loves the Indian people, but he also loves the US,” Trump said.
The US President also described India as a major global player.
“I think India plays a big role in everything as long as he (PM Modi) is the leader. India is going to play a big role,” Trump said in response to a question on whether New Delhi has a role to play in West Asia.
“As long as I am at the White House, India has a friend in the US,” he said, answering a question on the strain in India-US ties.
To a question on the deaths of three Indian seafarers, Trump said he was aware of it. “I heard about that (the deaths), it’s a rough profession, no question about it,” he said, adding, “We will work together.”
Answering another question, Trump said the US will extend support to India if it faces any security challenges or face attack.
The US President also sounded optimistic when asked about the proposed trade deal between India and the US.
Responding to a question on how close the two countries were to finalising a trade deal, Trump lauded Modi's negotiating skills.
"Very close," Trump said while speaking alongside Modi. "We have been there for a little while. He is a very tough negotiator. One of the toughest."
Praising the prime minister in his trademark style, Trump said, "He is the most beautiful looking man, he looks so nice, he is like an angel. But actually he is just tough, he is a killer."
"But he looks so good, he gets you by surprise. People say he is such a nice man, I say he is very tough, he is a tough trader," the US president said, as Modi sat beside him smiling and visibly amused.
"And he loves the Indian people. But he also loves the US," Trump said as he referred to the "Howdy, Modi!" event held in Texas in 2019.
As Modi interjected with a reference to the "Namaste Trump" event held in Ahmedabad in 2020, Trump said, "We will be going to India some time in the future."
Trump recalled his 2020 India visit and said he had a "great time", highlighting the large crowd that had gathered to see him.
Responding to a question on India-US defence relationship, Trump said: "I think it is a great relationship… If they (India) were attacked, we would be there to help them."
"If anybody attacks that man (Modi), we are going to be there," Trump said.
Meanwhile, Modi proposed a framework to boost connectivity and trade by combining the strengths of the G7 nations, India and the Global South even as he flagged concerns over long-lasting consequences of the West Asia crisis on developing countries.
The Prime Minister floated the proposal for setting up the International Mobilisation Partnership for Accelerating Connectivity and Trade (IMPACT) while speaking at an outreach session of the G7 summit in this French commune.
Modi emphasised that modern economic growth cannot be measured solely by trade volume or GDP numbers and that the true value of progress lies in its direction, and who ultimately benefits from it.
The impact of the West Asian crisis on fuel, fertiliser, and food supply chains will have long-lasting consequences for the Global South, Modi said, adding the most vulnerable countries should not bear the burden of geopolitical crises.
"If we truly want to strengthen international solidarity, the most vulnerable countries should not bear the burden of these crises alone," he said.
"Our international financial institutions must create support mechanisms that help developing countries absorb these shocks and maintain their economic resilience," Modi said.
The Prime Minister said the new framework to help the Global South can be modelled on the ambitious IMEC or India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor initiative.
"Drawing inspiration from the IMEC vision, we can work on connectivity projects with countries in Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific Islands," he said.
Combining the capital of the G7, India's talent, and the ownership of countries in the Global South, we could consider creating the International Mobilisation Partnership for Accelerating Connectivity and Trade, or IMPACT, he said.
"Its objective should be to create corridors that connect trade, technology, energy, and opportunity," he said.
The IMEC initiative was firmed up on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Delhi in 2023.
Billed as a pathbreaking initiative, it envisages vast road, railroad and shipping networks among Saudi Arabia, India, the United States and Europe with an aim to ensure integration among Asia, the Middle East and the West.
The project has not taken off yet in view of the crisis in the Middle East.
"I am delighted that France's G7 presidency places special emphasis on shared and sustainable growth. At a time when the world is facing many uncertainties, the message emanating from this forum is important for all humanity," Modi said.
"Today, the question of growth isn't just a matter of GDP or trade numbers. The real question is who is growth for, who is it with, and in what direction," he added.