This week, President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi came face-to-face at the G7 summit in France, their first such encounter since February 2025.Rather than his trademark bear hug, Modi greeted Trump with a smile and handshake.Then on Wednesday, the two held a bilateral meeting.
It was a friendly chat, but one that came against a backdrop of compounding tensions.As India works at restoring its relationship with Washington, its arch-foe Pakistan has expanded its own diplomatic profile, complicating India's campaign against its nuclear-armed rival.COMMERCE SECRETARY HOWARD LUTNICK MAKES QUIET TRIP TO INDIA DAYS AFTER TARIFF SETBACKPresident Donald Trump looks at Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaking following the official signing of the first phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.Shariff announced his intention to nominate Trump for the Noble Peace Prize for a second time. (Evelyn Hockstein / Reuters)For years, India built an international case against Pakistan, projecting it as an isolated or destabilizing state.
This hardline stance appeared to be working, with Modi declaring to Pakistan, "India has been successful in isolating you, and we will intensify those efforts." But a decade later, Pakistan is rapidly emerging as a key global player in the region and beyond.While Modi initially tried to engage Pakistan, his government’s approach eventually hardened around the mantra that "terror and talks cannot coexist."In Washington, India has typically been favored, with Presidents Trump, Biden, Obama and George W.Bush all making visits during their time in office.President Donald Trump (R) shakes hands with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral meeting at the G7 Summit on June 17, 2026 in Evian-les-Bains, France. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)Modi built a rapport with Trump during his first term in office and was one of the first world leaders invited to the White House after Trump’s...