G7 Summit: First Trump-PM Modi Meeting Since Pahalgam | What Could Be The Key Outcomes? | NewsX

[00:00:00]That's why we are coming.

[00:00:05]>> Welcome back. I'm with Pratap Singh.

[00:00:06]You're joining us on News X. A big focus this hour. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been playing for Canada for France.

[00:00:13]He will of course be attending the G7 Summit there. It's a visit that comes at a moment of extraordinary global flux with a world grappling with war, trade uncertainties, energy shocks, and a rapidly evolving technological landscape. The visit is significant despite not being a member of G7. India continues to be invited to the table of the world's most powerful economies. In many ways, India's presence has become indispensable to discussions on global growth, supply chains, technology, energy, security, and the future of the global south. At this summit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to join leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, and the European Union.

[00:00:53]Even as he holds a series of high-level bilateral meetings on the sidelines.

[00:00:57]Those conversations are likely to focus on defense cooperation, trade expansion, critical minerals, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and investment flows. On the multilateral front, India is likely to push for the concerns of the global south, call for reforms in global governance institutions, and seek greater cooperation on energy security, food security, as well as climate resilience. The Prime Minister is also expected to highlight India's role as a fast-growing economy, a trusted technology partner, and also key voice in shaping the global response to emerging challenges such as artificial intelligence, supply chain resilience, and economic security. Now, with conflicts continuing in several parts of the world and the global economy facing multiple headwinds, PM's interventions at the G7 will focus on dialogue, stability, development, and a rules-based international order.

[00:01:45]Also, all eyes will be on this summit as India seeks to further expand its global diplomatic footprint. There will also be certain meetings happening on the sidelines of this summit as well. And now, in some latest news coming in, according to reports, the White House has confirmed that United States President Donald Trump will have a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday, June 17th on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France.

[00:02:08]Big news coming in. Ambassador Manju Seth, former diplomat with us live.

[00:02:10]Ambassador Seth, the White House has reportedly confirmed the meeting of Trump and Modi in France.

[00:02:17]>> Yes, absolutely. I think it was a part but has just been confirmed. And I think that's a I think this is a little it's an important significant visit because both the leaders after all what has happened between India and uh the US. I mean, it's been plus minus plus minus positive negative all this while. So, I think this particular meeting is very significant significant and it is expected that they will discuss all mutual interest, of course, but also of concern. And at the same time, you know, India's concerns are very many including you know, for the H1 the immigration H1B visas, uh the you know, movement of people and of course the trade deal will be on the table. I think it's likely that they will have at least that early harvest thing that they were talking about something will be concluded or maybe they will decide on work on that, speak about that and maybe finalize it.

[00:03:14]And also the West Asia war ensuring that our our you know, that the our nationals you know, are remain safe and that these these kind of attacks have to be stopped on civilian you know, cargo ships and others. And I and I also believe that the the fact that you know, President Trump has been saying that it's about to be the deal is about to be concluded with Iran is a positive step and if it is concluded, there is I'm sure the two sides will discuss that as well that how to ensure lasting peace and no going no back and forth as been happening all this while in on the West Asia question. So, I think it's a very significant visit and important and we expect that all eyes will be on this visit.

[00:04:03]>> Major General the video is also with us now live a Major General the video geopolitical expert Major General the video as far as this meeting now of Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi is concerned it comes of course after quite a few months and it comes also after you know many phone calls between the two it also comes after there was considerable friction last year although the US has tried to iron that out this week hasn't been particularly very rosy though for US-India ties with the attack on our vessels and also three Indian personal dying in those incidents as well something that today has been escalated to the highest levels with the foreign minister speaking with the US Secretary of State but now with the White House confirming this meeting what are your expectations from this meet Major General the video and what all will be on the table?

[00:04:52]>> Well firstly Uday I am very glad that this meeting has taken place because it was desired it was mandatory it was expected because you know India and America we are very close partners we are global partners we have so much in common but it was very unfortunate that the things took a very different turn since beginning last year and this is time to put things on track and after all the differences between India and USA are not very deep yes there have been some misunderstanding I think that would be clarified after all President Modi and President Prime Minister Modi and President Trump they have very good relation during the President Trump's first term but then in diplomacy nothing is constant things always move back and forth sometime blow hot blow cold so I am firstly I'm so glad that this meeting is happening.

[00:05:50]Yes, there are number of issues that will be on the table. First and foremost, I'm sure misunderstanding must be cleared because after all, you can only start fresh when you clear the backlog. I'm sure that will be done.

[00:06:02]After that, there are strategic issues.

[00:06:04]First firstly, I think Quad itself, there was a foreign minister's meeting and the Quad is will be one issue which will be discussed very emphatically.

[00:06:14]Then India's India's uh security concerns are very important. We have number of uh defense requirement which are on the table, like the GE 404 engine, the GE 414 engine for uh you know, Tejas Mark 1A. Then of course, MQ-9 Predator drones are there. MH-60 naval helicopters, all that are there and possibly the stealth fighters F-35 uh may not may be also on the table. Along with that, of course, the trade will be handled, I'm sure. The trade deal will be signed in time to come and most importantly, I think there has to be a reset now. That reset was very much required and I'm glad that that will happen. So, overall, this is very positive development for the relations between US and India and for the globe at large.

[00:07:03]Uday.

[00:07:07]>> Madhav Nalapat, editorial director of The Sunday Guardian, also joins the broadcast now. Professor Nalapat, all eyes, of course, will be on the G7, but a lot of uh speculation ahead of this meeting as well. There was a big question of whether the meeting will happen or not. Now, the White House has confirmed it. Uh what do you expect from this key meeting between Trump and Modi? Uh what will be the discussion points? Uh how significant is this meeting for both sides and the timing of it as well, Professor Nalapat?

[00:07:36]>> Well, I think first of all, Prime Minister Modi is uh almost always you you very welcome uh guest at the G7 meetings and his wise words are looked upon very seriously and I think the Prime Minister has got a very broad canvas. Let's face it today, the global south is in crisis. Do you know that there have been 3 million suicides in the global south that are reported? 3 million reported. You can imagine the number of unreported.

[00:08:07]Economic crisis, various other crisis as has been very beautifully portrayed on by the by the other two discussions. But I'd like to say that for as Prime Minister Modi is concerned India is the only other country in the world with a billion plus population and very importantly a billion plus population that has proved its metal in for example in technology.

[00:08:32]And so far as President Trump is concerned frankly, he is doing everything possible to damage that technology. Now he's tried to introduce some all restrictions on H1B visas which have been thrown out by the court. 100,000 per visa, ridiculous, thrown out by the court.

[00:08:50]Almost all his decisions have been thrown out by various courts because the US is a democracy and a democracy frankly the legislature, the the judiciary and the executive are all independent. They're not tied to the executive. So as far as India is concerned well, I don't know how much the discussion is going to contribute but the fact that India is being invited to the high table is a sign of the fact that the widespread acceptance of the reality of Prime Minister Modi being a very important champion of the global south.

[00:09:28]And that is a very important point.

[00:09:30]Second, Indian talent all over the European countries now especially in Germany and the UK, now increasingly in other countries. You and the United States definitely, Canada definitely.

[00:09:45]Indian individuals, ethnic Indians, and Indian nationals are playing a very significant role in high-tech. We have just seen um 24 hours ago the world's first trillionaire. Who is that? Elon Musk with the IPO of SpaceX. The three top billionaires in the world are all from the United States.

[00:10:08]And uh frankly, a lot of their employees are Indian in the sense of ethnic Indians uh if not Indian nationals. So, we have got a lot to contribute to this talk. I am not at all surprised that Prime Minister Modi has been invited.

[00:10:25]Prime Ministers so many times given words of very high wisdom. Regrettably, not many of them have been followed. Unfortunately, some countries in the global north see the global south as some kind of wastepaper basket to throw the wastepaper in and not as a rich source of human power that can be developed. Now, that is a point in India's favor. The human point is a human factor. The human, you know, potential is in amazingly vast in India, and that's been proved around the world by by Indian ethnic Indians being very important contributors. Now, you're talking about these trillion-dollar companies. You're talking about SpaceX.

[00:11:13]A lot of Indians are working there. Elon Musk has got a particular affinity to ability, and as a consequence, a particular affinity to to people from India. So, so also, for example, Anthropic. So also, OpenAI. All these three giants, I mean, a lot of people from India are there. So, Prime Minister going as the elected Prime Minister, the most popular Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy and overall a successful democracy. He can go with his head held high. As far as President Trump is concerned, well, I'm not going to delve too much into that meeting, but the fact that Trump had to have a meeting with Modi agreed went and the White House went and go ahead went ahead and said, "We are confirming this meeting." Indicates very honestly that the United States realizes that in a world where the main pure competitor, and that's the word which President Trump has used by the way, not me, pure competitor China is posing a threat to the global dominance of the G7 in supply chains and so many other factors.

[00:12:29]Regarding AI, for example, yes, China's very, very fast.

[00:12:34]>> Absolutely.

[00:12:35]>> stop that, you need a lot of talent and a lot talent has to come from India.

[00:12:40]Why?

[00:12:41]Indians will not do espionage.

[00:12:44]Unlike some certain other nationalities who will do espionage, the Chinese for example, Indians will not do that. And Indians are coming from a democracy.

[00:12:53]They are schooled in the ways of democracy and they have proved to be reliable all over the tech world. So, I think in this context, PM is going with his head held high. His head held high for two or three reasons. One is innate wisdom. Two, the very, very strong public base that he's got in India in terms of popularity. And three, I would say the immense natural wealth of our human resources. Thank you, Uday.

[00:13:25]>> More uh breaking updates in fact also coming in now about Prime Minister Modi's schedule during his 6-day visit.

[00:13:30]We are learning that PM Modi will be traveling back and forth between France and Slovakia between the 13th of June and 18th of June. Traveling first to the French port city of Nice where he will hold bilateral talks with uh President Macron tomorrow to review progress since the two sides elevated their ties to a special global strategic partnership in February and to chart the next steps in bilateral cooperation. The two leaders will jointly inaugurate Bharat Innovates in Nice on the same day. The event part of the India-France year of innovation will connect Indian startups with global investment and act as an accelerator for innovations from India's higher education system. From Nice, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Slovakia during June 14-15 to give momentum to bilateral ties by holding talks with President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava. Modi will also interact with Slovak business leaders building on the momentum of the India-EU free trade agreement. The visit will further energize our strategic partnership with the European Union of which Slovakia is an important and valued member. He said referring to the trade deal that is expected to be signed by the end of the year. The PM will conclude his visit by traveling to Paris on the 18th of June to attend Vivatech 2026 which is an important European gathering on technology and innovation. With President Macron, India will have the largest pavilion at this year's edition of the Vivatech which PM Modi says reflects the potential for partnership between India and the European innovation ecosystems.

[00:14:47]Professor Karori Singh, foreign affairs expert, is with us live. Professor Singh, uh >> [snorts] >> of course uh while the main you know, high point of the trip will be that G7 summit, around it there are various important aspects that have been weaved in as well including of course this key visit to Slovakia but also uh some key stops in France apart uh from Evian where the summit is happening both in Nice and in Paris, Professor Singh.

[00:15:14]Overall, how important is this visit?

[00:15:16]What strikes out according uh what strikes out for you?

[00:15:20]>> Uh you see that Prime Minister Modi's visit to uh our five days visit is very important on four counts. First is how the France and India's national interest is having convergence and how their India and France partnership is moving ahead. So, the first is the India France bilateral relations. The second is the collective agenda of G7. How the collective agenda of the G7 is being formulated for the future advancement of the global community because the G7 is representing seven developed democracies. Though India is not member of the G7, but India is an important partner and we invite uh uh, in the G7 summit. So, definitely India will have some impact in the formulating the joint uh, statement and the future direction for the global community. And the third is about the Slovakia which emerged out of the dismantling of Czechoslovakia and important country in the Eastern Europe.

[00:16:31]Though the trade potentials are very limited because it may reach up to 2 billion.

[00:16:38]That's not so significant uh, significant. But Indian diaspora is there, Indian investment is there, Indian companies are investing in that country. And all the more India is uh, giving a confidence to smaller countries. That is the part of India's policy to give confidence, to inject confidence among the smaller countries that India is treating smaller countries on equal footing. India is not trying to interfere in their affairs and not trying to influence them. So, the from that point of view Slovakia visit is more important. The fourth one is bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G7 and most important is the meeting with the US president. He is in fact the words after the China visit of the President Trump. I think the US has moved its policy to re-cement India's relations with the United States. That is a shift in US policy. And now I think the vision of India US relations was formulated during Prime Minister Modi's visit in February 2025 and the joint statement was issued which anticipated 500 billion trade up by 2030. So that vision document may be implemented and there may be some talk about that. Another one is the defense partnership agreement signed in November 2025.

[00:18:11]And now the about the trade deal, I think that is at the final stage.

[00:18:17]About that I think there will be some discussion between Let me now pick up let me now pick up tomorrow's meeting first with you Ambassador Manju Seth.

[00:18:25]Let's let's pick up what's going to happen in these key meetings between Modi and Macron. How significant is it for India-France ties elevation to the next level also Bharat Innovates a very special event which of course is happening there. Will help connect Indian startups to further investment opportunities. And there will be a key focus on the higher education sector of India as well.

[00:18:50]>> Absolutely there all these things on on the table which should be discussed and I think the partnership with France has is very special.

[00:18:58]You know they have a long standing positive and very strong relationship and including in all areas. Education is has always been there but now there's renewed push and on innovation and you know in nuclear energy in space they have you know long uh defense sector, of course. So, across the board, we have been collaborating for so many years, and now for young uh startups on both sides to connect uh and to innovate together will be a win-win situation for both uh >> Indeed, I I just to add just to add also Ambassador said there there there's that big event in Paris as well, Vivatech, uh where again India will be playing a crucial role in its participation. Prime Minister Modi will be in Paris for that, too. That again focuses on innovation and tech and AI.

[00:19:47]>> Yes, very right, and uh the joint innovation that is being done is already being done. I know there are a number of incubation centers uh in various uh parts of France where a lot of Indian scientists, Indian researchers are working along with Indian uh along with French researchers, and they're doing a lot of innovative work, including at the ITER, you know, ITER thermonuclear fusion plant. And we I find that project, and I think also, you know, our companies are active. L&T uh for instance, has uh is responsible for that making the whole core in which the thermonuclear fusion uh experiment is ongoing. So, I think uh the innovation uh uh the the prospects for innovation and joint innovation are huge, and the and the fact that both of them will uh you know, both leaders will be there at Bharat Innovate, and they will be uh sort of addressing the you know, these young people, young startups. I believe there is a signal uh for their companies, for our people, for everyone that they will work together. In education also, we've had long-standing uh collaboration, but yes, to the next level, I think it's very important because uh it was more one-way, but now I believe many more French students are also looking at India as uh an education hub, and again, joint uh you know, degrees and other kind of things I'm sure will be on the table and I and I believe that France and India have a very shared vision for the world, a shared common kind of approach to world issues on and and I and I believe there's a lot of convergence and that is a plus point for both sides. And of course, as I said in defense, it's already quite you know, quite advanced the collaboration including manufacturing in India. And I think that is something which we are looking at and I and and you know, I believe that you know, going for the submarines to the to the airplanes to the fall, everything you know, and the nuclear projects, railways, we got so many areas of collaboration with France and I believe that France is ready to share technology fully and innovate together.

[00:22:01]>> And also also there is this key visit to Slovakia.

[00:22:04]Professor how how important is that visit as well to Slovakia?

[00:22:09]And also this push once again for the for trade between both sides under the India EU free trade agreement which of course has been signed and we hope for its implementation sooner this year rather than later.

[00:22:25]>> Well, I'd like to say with that some of the Indian universities for example are there across the world. I mean Manipal for example, you got in Antigua, you got in Dubai, you got in in Nepal, you got in various other centers and so many Indian universities have proved their merit and they're going abroad.

[00:22:45]Now for example, some universities have got dozens and dozens, literally dozens of of relationships with US universities of the same number, dozens and dozens.

[00:22:58]So the relationship between India and the US in particular is extremely close and as a consequence I can tell you no politician in the United States or whatever is going to do any damage to that because it is not something that has come from the top down. It has come from the bottom up. From by over decades and decades and decades of Indians going there, working there, living there. So I see the India-US relationship as being very crucial and I see the Trump-Modi meeting as being Trump's recognition of the fact that the Indian-American vote is very very significant. For example, you've got in New York, you have somebody who an ethnic Indian who is a mayor. You have Los Angeles. You may have a lady who is ethnic Indian elected in November as a Los Angeles mayor. So two largest cities in America at different coast, East Coast and West Coast, will be ethnic Indians. So the the reality is I look for example at India. People are coming here. Sana Takachi, the the the Prime Minister of Japan is coming all the way to Delhi on July 1 and I think one one of the important priorities of her visit is going to be cooperation between India and Japan in rare earths. India is the third largest reserve of rare earths in the world. Brazil, second largest. Now under the sub framework, if India develops its own rare earths and with the help of tech technology from Japan and other and the United States etc., we can then emerge as someone who can break this Chinese monopoly. Today the Chinese have got about 50 about a little over 47-48% of the world's rare earth discovered, but they control more than 90% of the rare earth production. Now we can easily move into that field. India and Brazil together can basically have what, 20% of the world's rare earth production in terms of utilization. So, this is a very important thing and the technology companies are aware of the fact that anytime geopolitical factors may inhibit >> Yes.

[00:25:15]>> the the import of rare earths from China and therefore they're also looking at India and Brazil and other countries as alternatives. Not so much Brazil, but Prime Minister Modi is well known in the global >> Absolutely.

[00:25:29]>> well respected in the global south.

[00:25:30]>> Yes.

[00:25:31]>> So, I think we can convince the countries of the global south to build their resilience including in this very important field of rare earths.

[00:25:38]>> And then there is of course and then there is of course the G7 summit for which of course all these leaders are converging in Evian in France. Major General Dwivedi, what all will India be putting on the table at the at the G7 grouping and also will there be the shadow of this peace agreement whether it's happening or not on the summit as well with Donald Trump expected to push for all sides to back his deal his terms which he wants Iran to agree to.

[00:26:10]>> Well, absolutely Uday. I think this G7 meeting will be under the overhang of the so-called MOU and the interim agreement that is possibly could be signed in Geneva during on the sidelines of the meeting. No doubt about it. This is going to have a I think overarching shadow on the whole proceedings and importantly because the Iran-US war is actually in the center stage and President Trump himself is here. He's the key player. So, I'm sure that he would like to steal the show of this a G7 by ensuring that this agreement or interim agreement at least is signed and there's a fresh ink on that. Yes, of course, there are other issues as well because the meeting firstly is taking place in a very fractured world. So, therefore, I think G7 countries will have to look at this turbulence that is there, uncertainty that is there, and uh more importantly, how they are going to balance out because the there's so much of imbalance between the developed and the developing countries. Now, this is where India would step in because India has been the voice of global south. You know, 2 years back when we had the G20 meeting in Delhi, India made effort, I think Herculean effort, to get Africa as one of the G21 uh partner uh countries.

[00:27:32]India also raised voice concern about the inequality and also the how the resources need to be balanced out, and more importantly, how the human resource of the global south can be developed because most of the countries in global south have tremendous uh demographic dividend. And the end of it, I think is Prime Minister Modi or India is the voice of global south. I'm sure this will be our priority as to how we can leverage our position for the larger good of the developing world or the global south.

[00:28:08]>> All right, gentlemen. My thanks to all of our guests for joining us. We've run out of time, but we of course will continue our focus on the PM's visit to France and Slovakia uh through the next few days right here on News X. So, stay tuned for that special coverage. We're slipping into a short break. The news continues on the other side. Thanks for being with us.

[00:28:32]>> Bimari hui to pata laga ki hospital ka bill office