Trump and Modi at G7
– N K Tripathi
George Bernard Shaw created a teen age lover in his play Candida ( in my BA course), Eugene Marchbanks who famously said after realisation of life, “I am as old as earth now: I was eighteen this morning.” The child acquires wisdom of ages. The same happened to Modi, or rather India. The illusion India had in January 2025 has now turned into a stoic realism. Trump said for Modi, “He looks like an angel, but he’s tough… he’s a killer…. Modi appears gentle, he acts as a formidable trader” I think Modi was hardly flattered. No one took it seriously.
In last 16 months, US has given India pain and humiliation. India was a solitary example in the world to be levied a tariff of 50%. He belittled india’s military achievement in Operation Sindoor. He treated both Pakistan and India like quarrelling boys. He insulted India repeating ad nauseam that he brokered the ceasefire. He threatened BRICS taking a shot at india. He went out of way to glorify a general of Pakistan. He tortured the Indian community in US and crushed the ambitions of many young students of India to attend American campuses. He played with the nerves of India in the trade deal. Quad, a counterweight against China, is relegated to the background. The word ‘Indo’ has been removed from Indo-Pacific US command.
However, meeting of the top leaders of the two countries carries diplomatic significance. With temperature of the relations becoming somewhat normal, compromises are easier to reach. Both countries have expectations from each other. Trump’s approach is transactional—he prefers clear economic gains for the U.S.. He wants India to reduce its high tariffs. He also wants India to address the trade imbalance by buying American agricultural products and oil. US also wants India not purchasing Russian oil. Secondly, India has its own heft and Trump wants India’s strategic cooperation, but on US term.
India’s expectations from the United States are more balanced and strategic compared to Trump’s largely transactional approach. New Delhi wants benefits in trade, mobility, security, and technology—without losing its autonomy. India wants the trade deal to be signed early.
A few of these mutual expectations will be achieved. I hope that the breeze from the sidelines of the G7 at Evian-les-Bains, France will be reassuring.
