Trump says he will visit India as frosty relationship with Modi thaws

June 17, 2026

US President Donald Trump pledged to visit India following a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 summit in France, suggesting improved relations between the nations after recent tensions. The relationship had been strained by US tariff impositions and most critically by the recent American military strike that killed three Indian sailors in the Gulf of Oman. During their discussions, Modi raised concerns about the safety of Indian maritime workers in the Strait of Hormuz while both leaders also addressed ongoing trade negotiations that have faced setbacks from new US import taxes.

Who is affected

Three Indian sailors killed in the US military strike in the Gulf of Oman
Indian seafarers working in the Strait of Hormuz region
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian government
President Donald Trump and the US government
Indian civilians who have lost their lives in the Middle East conflict
Skilled Indian workers affected by H-1B visa restrictions
Indian businesses impacted by US tariffs on Indian goods
Opposition parties in India criticizing Modi's response

What action is being taken

Trump and Modi are negotiating a trade deal
India is importing oil (about 90% of its needs) despite the closure of the Strait of Hormuz
Delhi has summoned senior US diplomats twice following the sailor killings
Pakistan is serving as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran in peace deal efforts
Officials are set to meet in Delhi next week to negotiate the "final touches" to the US-India trade deal

Why it matters

This matters because it signals a potential turning point in US-India relations after a particularly tense period marked by the deaths of Indian sailors and ongoing trade disputes. India's heavy dependence on oil imports (90%) and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz—which normally transports about a fifth of the world's oil and gas—has severely impacted the country economically. The relationship between the world's oldest and largest democracies is strategically significant, particularly in the context of broader geopolitical dynamics involving China, the Quad alliance, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the resolution of trade tensions and tariff disputes could have substantial economic implications for both nations and set a precedent for how Trump handles other bilateral trade relationships.

What's next

Trump will visit India "sometime in the future," potentially as part of a Quad meeting with Japan and Australia
Officials are set to meet in Delhi next week to negotiate the "final touches" to the US-India trade deal
Global oil and gas supplies could take months to stabilize even if the Strait of Hormuz reopens soon

Read full article from source: BBC