France: US President Donald Trump delivered a strong message of support for India during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, declaring that the United States would come to India’s aid if the country faced an external attack while Modi remained in office.
Following bilateral talks, Trump praised the growing India-US partnership and described his discussions with the Prime Minister as highly productive. Addressing reporters after the meeting, the US President said, “If Modi is the leader and India is attacked, we will be there to help them.”
“If anybody attacks PM Modi, we’re going to be there; not sure if there’s a new leader.
India-US has great defence ties, if they are attacked, we will be there to help them.”
– Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/rzKFgoDJJv
— News Arena India (@NewsArenaIndia) June 17, 2026
Reinforcing his support, Trump added, “If anybody attacks that man, we’re going to be there,” in an apparent reference to Prime Minister Modi. In a lighter remark that drew laughter, he added, “Now, if there’s a new leader, I’m not sure…”
Trump’s comments are likely to resonate strongly in New Delhi, where strategic ties between India and the United States have deepened significantly in recent years amid evolving geopolitical challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
Trade, Security and Strategic Cooperation
The two leaders held extensive discussions covering trade, economic cooperation, defence collaboration and regional security. The meeting comes at a time when both countries are working to strengthen their strategic partnership while addressing key trade-related issues.
India and the United States have been engaged in discussions on tariffs, market access and supply-chain resilience, alongside efforts to expand cooperation in defence manufacturing, critical technologies, clean energy and investment.
Modi a ‘Tough Trader’
During his interaction with the media, Trump also complimented Modi’s negotiating skills, calling him a formidable counterpart in trade discussions.
“He’s a tough trader,” Trump remarked, underscoring the importance of ongoing economic negotiations between the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies.
Growing India-US Partnership
The latest Modi-Trump meeting highlighted the increasing importance of the India-US strategic relationship, particularly in areas such as defence, technology, maritime security and economic engagement.
As both nations seek to play larger roles in shaping the Indo-Pacific landscape, the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to deeper cooperation and regional stability. Trump’s emphatic assurance of support for India added a significant strategic dimension to the summit discussions, signalling Washington’s continued commitment to strengthening ties with New Delhi.
