• News
  • India News
  • Amid turmoil in US, Trump calls Modi to invite him for G7 summit
This story is from June 2, 2020

Amid turmoil in US, Trump calls Modi to invite him for G7 summit

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday formally invited PM Modi to attend the G7 summit to be held in the US later this year, acting on his desire to expand the size and scope of the grouping of major world economic powers. During the 25 min-long phone call, the two discussed the situation on the India-China border, the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for reforms in WHO.
US President Donald Trump calls PM Modi to invite him for G7 summit
File photo
WASHINGTON/ NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 summit to be held in the US later this year, acting on his desire to expand the size and scope of the grouping of major world economic powers.
The two spoke over phone for 25 minutes even as racial tensions roiled America, discussing a range of topics including the situation on the India-China border, the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for reforms in the World Health Organisation.
The Indian statement said Modi expressed concern regarding the ongoing civil disturbances in the US, and conveyed his best wishes for an early resolution of the situation.
Modi commended Trump's views on an expanded G7 as a "creative and far-sighted approach", acknowledging that such a development would be in keeping with the emerging realities of the post-Covid world. The PM said India would be happy to work with the US and other countries to ensure the success of the summit.
Importantly, the Indian statement said the two leaders exchanged views on other topical issues, such as the Covid-19 situation in the two countries, the situation on the India-China border, and the need for reforms in the WHO. The reference to the border tensions indicates the US's critical view of China's intrusions across the LAC, voiced by senior American officials, and that any divergence over Trump's claims to have recently discussed the issue with Modi did not affect the cordial exchange. Reacting to Trump’s statement and his offer to mediate, India had said the two leaders had not spoken since April and that the discussion was on anti-malarial drug HCQ for Covid-19 treatment.
While Trump had claimed he had spoken to India about India-China tensions and that Modi seemed to be in a bad mood, India had responded by saying that it was looking to address the situation in Ladakh through existing bilateral mechanisms with China even as it remained firm on defending its sovereignty.
With the Indian readout of the conversation saying that the issue had been discussed, it is clear that the border situation remains serious as Chinese soldiers remain on Indian territory, despite Beijing having toned down the rhetoric in the past few days. Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said Chinese troops were present in sizeable numbers at the border (he didn't specify though on which side).

“President Trump warmly recalled his visit to India in February this year. Prime Minister Modi said the visit had been memorable and historic on many accounts, and had also added new dynamism to the bilateral relationship. The exceptional warmth and candour of the conversation reflected the special nature of Indo-US ties, as well as the friendship and mutual esteem between both leaders,” the Indian statement said.
"Had a warm and productive conversation with my friend President Donald Trump. We discussed his plans for the US presidency of G7, the Covid-19 pandemic, and many other issues," Modi tweeted. The fact that Trump found time to engage with Modi amid the troubles in the US suggests he is sure of overcoming the ongoing domestic crisis, and is even confident of a second term in office.

The US president had earlier indicated he would host the G7 summit on the sidelines of annual UN General Assembly meeting in September, or after the presidential elections on November 3 — assuming the inevitability of his own re-election — after the summit he had scheduled for June was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel threw a spanner in the works saying she was not in a position to attend because of the pandemic situation and other leaders were also lukewarm about the gathering which brings together leaders of the US, UK, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Japan.
Trump wants to expand the grouping to include India, South Korea, Australia, and possibly Russia. China, the world’s second largest economy, is not a member, nor is Brazil, whose economy is larger than at least four of the current G7.
End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA