PM Modi Flags “Safety Of Seafarers” To Trump Days After Indian Sailor Deaths

New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump met on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France on Friday, marking a big step towards resetting ties between India and the US, which have been rocked by tariffs and, most recently, the killing of three Indian sailors in US attacks on ships near the Strait of Hormuz. 

Commending the US president on his efforts towards ensuring peace in the Middle East, PM Modi also brought up the safety of Indian seafarers, who make up 10% of global seafarers, and stressed its importance.  

Addressing Trump, whom he was meeting after 16 months, the PM said, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr President, and we met in Washington last year. Since then, there has been a new momentum in our relationship. There’s a new energy… It is a pleasure for us that our two teams have set targets together. We are making every effort to achieve the targets and we are moving forward very fast.”

The Prime Minister said he applauded Trump’s leadership and the progress that has been made in the efforts to restore peace in the Middle East and emphasised that he hoped it was a lasting one. He said keeping the Strait of Hormuz open was vital to the global economy and stressed that freedom of navigation should be ensured.

Bringing up the safety of seafarers, PM Modi said he hoped the US deal with Iran, which is scheduled to be signed on Friday, would prioritise the issue. 

“As you know, in the world of maritime trade, hundreds of thousands of Indian seafarers are performing their duties across global maritime trade routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, contributing heavily to global progress. Their safety is of the utmost importance to us… You have made tremendous efforts towards reaching this understanding and this agreement (with Iran), and I am confident that the issue of seafarers’ safety will receive the highest priority during the implementation of this agreement,” he asserted. 

To a question on the deaths of Indian seafarers, Trump said the US and India will work together. 

“I heard about that (the deaths), it’s a rough profession, no question about it. And we work together, this has been happening throughout time, but we work together. we love all of those people, they are great people,” the US president said. 

Praise For PM

Trump was also effusive in his praise for Prime Minister Modi, calling him a tough negotiator and a killer. 

“He’s a very tough negotiator…You look at this man. I’ll give you a lesson. He’s the most beautiful-looking man. He looks so nice, like an angel. But actually, he’s as tough as a killer… But he looks so good. So he gets you by surprise. There are few people like this,” he said.

“As long as I am President, they (India) have a great friend in the White House…Everyone here loves India, and they have tremendous respect for this man (PM Modi),” he added.

Defence Ties

To a question by NDTV’s Vishnu Som on defence ties, Trump said the US will be there for India. 

“I think it’s a great relationship. I can tell you this: without even having a contract – we don’t have a formal (mutual defence) contract; you have to have the right contract – but if they were attacked, we would be there to help.”

In a light-hearted remark, he added, “Now, if there is a new leader, I am not sure about it. But if they are attacked and he (PM Modi) is the leader, we are going to be there to help,” Trump said.