Evian-Les-Bains (France)- US President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “very tough negotiator” and said he would visit India in the future, as the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit here.
Responding to a question on how close the two countries were to finalising a trade deal, Trump lauded Modi’s negotiating skills.
“Very close,” Trump said while speaking alongside Modi. “We have been there for a little while. He is a very tough negotiator. One of the toughest.”
Praising the prime minister in his trademark style, Trump said, “He is the most beautiful looking man, he looks so nice, he is like an angel. But actually he is just tough, he is a killer.”
“But he looks so good, he gets you by surprise. People say he is such a nice man, I say he is very tough, he is a tough trader,” the US president said, as Modi sat beside him smiling and visibly amused.
Trump also said Modi loves the Indian people while also referring to the “Howdy, Modi!” event held in Texas in 2019.
As Modi interjected with a reference to the “Namaste Trump” event held in Ahmedabad in 2020, Trump said, “We will be going to India some time in the future.”
The remarks came during a press briefing after talks between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit held in this French commune.
Their wide-ranging talks focused on the proposed bilateral trade deal, defence and security ties, and the West Asia crisis.
PM Modi Raises Safety Of Seafarers With Trump
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday raised the issue of the safety of seafarers with US President Donald Trump, asserting that the proposed peace deal between Iran and the US must have provisions for their security.
Modi and Trump held wide-ranging talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit that focused on the proposed bilateral trade deal, bilateral defence and security ties and the West Asia crisis.
The meeting came days after three Indian seafarers were killed on board a merchant ship in a US military strike.
The prime minister also commended Trump for his leadership in rekindling the hope for peace and progress in West Asia.
“We have always said that there should be freedom of navigation…Lakhs of Indian seafarers operate in the maritime trade sector. I believe that their security is equally important. I am confident that the deal (with Iran) will have provisions for the security of the seafarers,” Modi said in his media comments.
Trump described the meeting as “great” as heaped praise on Modi.
“I think India plays a big role in everything as long as he (PM Modi) is the leader. India is going to play a big role,” Trump said in response to a question on whether New Delhi has a role to play in West Asia.
“As long as I am at the White House, India has a friend in the US,” he said, answering a question on the strain in India-US ties.
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