Meeting at the G7 Summit: A few days after an American missile struck an oil tanker in the Gulf region, resulting in the deaths of three Indians, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of the safety of Indian sailors during his talks with US President Donald Trump. Speaking to the press before a crucial bilateral meeting with the US President,
PM Modi told President Trump:
“We have always maintained that freedom of navigation must be ensured, and we must emphasise this. Lakhs of Indian sailors work across the world’s oceans in the maritime trade sector. I believe their safety is equally important… I am confident that the safety of sailors will be ensured and prioritized in the agreement (with Iran)…”
President Trump expressed condolences over the deaths of the Indian sailors: Responding to a question from the press about whether he had a message for the bereaved families, Trump said: “Yes, I do. I have heard about it. It is a tough profession; there is no doubt about that.” He also acknowledged the dangers faced by sailors and noted that the US and India work together on maritime issues. He stated, “We work together on this. It has always been the case, but we work together.”
Donald Trump on India’s role in the West Asia War
When asked about India’s role in the ongoing crisis in West Asia, Donald Trump said that as long as Narendra Modi is the Prime Minister of India, the country will have a big role in this ongoing conflict. Responding to this question, Trump said, “Yes, I think so. I think as long as he is the leader, India plays a big role in everything.” Talking about the India-US trade deal, the US President said that Modi is a “tough negotiator”.
President Trump also said, “He looks great. He looks great. He’s like an angel, but actually he’s a killer. I don’t want to use the word killer. He’s very tough, but he looks great. That’s why he surprises you.”
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