Evian [France], June 17 : US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said the United States and India were "very close" to finalising a long-awaited trade deal and hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi as his "friend for a long time" during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France here.
When asked about the US-India trade deal, Trump said that it is "very close". He added, "We've been there for a little while, and he's (PM Modi) a very tough negotiator. He's one of the toughest."
In his opening remarks, the US President said, "We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India. And we're doing trade deals, we're doing a lot of things, a lot of things are happening between the United States and India," Trump said.
Trump further praised PM Modi's role in encouraging investment in the United States, saying, "Prime Minister is building a lot in the United States. He's spending a lot of money in the United States. So we appreciate that job."
Emphasising the personal rapport between the two leaders, Trump added, "He's been my friend for a long time now, and we've always had a great relationship, and it's great to be with you."
"So, you look at this man, I'll give you a lesson. He's the most beautiful-looking man; he looks so nice, he's like an angel. But actually, he's as tough as--they come. I don't want to--he's a killer. He's as tough as they come," Trump said.
"But he looks so good, so he gets you by surprise. There are a few people like this. People say he's such a nice man. I said no, he's very tough. He's a tough trader. And he loves the Indian people, but he also loves the US," he added.
Trump also recalled the "Howdy Modi" event held in Houston during his previous term, highlighting the public outreach and ties shared by the two leaders.
The two leaders met at the G7 Summit in France, their first in-person talks in 16+ months, after PM Modi's official visit to the White House in February 2025.
The proposed India-US trade deal is in its final stages, with negotiations progressing steadily and work on the agreement expected to be completed in the coming weeks.
The two nations reached an interim trade agreement earlier in February after a year of talks.
The meeting assumes significance as instability in the Strait of Hormuz continues to impact global energy markets and maritime trade. The narrow waterway remains one of the world's most critical shipping routes, handling a substantial portion of global oil and gas supplies.