Trump Says U.S. Would Help India If Attacked, Calls Modi a ‘Tough Negotiator’ at G7 Summit

Evian, June 2026 : U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday made one of his strongest public statements yet on India-U.S. defence ties, declaring that the United States would come to India’s aid if it were attacked. The remarks came during his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France.

Speaking to reporters after bilateral talks with PM Modi, Trump underscored the growing strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi, describing the relationship as one of the closest the United States has with any country.

“I think it’s a great relationship,” Trump said when asked about defence cooperation between the two nations.

Without referring to any formal agreement, the U.S. President added, “I can tell you this, without having a contract. We don’t have a contract. You have to write contracts. But if they were attacked, we would be there to help them.”

Trump’s comments drew significant attention because India and the United States do not share a formal mutual defence treaty. However, the two countries have steadily deepened military and strategic cooperation over the past two decades through joint exercises, technology partnerships and defence agreements.

The U.S. President went on to personalize his remarks while referring to Prime Minister Modi.

“If anybody attacks that man, we’re going to be there,” Trump said. “Now, if there’s a new leader, I’m not sure about it. If there’s a new leader, I don’t know about that. But if they’re attacked and he’s the leader, we’re going to be there to help.”

The comments highlighted not only the strategic partnership between the two countries but also the strong personal rapport that Trump and Modi have built over the years.

Earlier in the day, Trump had praised India and its leadership, noting that relations between the two democracies had reached unprecedented levels.

“We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India,” Trump said. “A lot of things are happening between the United States and India.”

The U.S. President also expressed optimism over ongoing trade negotiations between the two nations. Asked about the possibility of a trade agreement, Trump replied, “We’re very close.”

He reserved special praise for PM Modi’s negotiating skills, calling him one of the toughest leaders he has dealt with internationally.

“He’s a very tough negotiator. He’s one of the toughest, actually,” Trump remarked.

Prime Minister Modi, in his comments, emphasized the progress made in bilateral ties since his previous meeting with Trump in Washington.

“We had an extremely productive meeting in Washington last year, and since then we have given new speed and new energy to our relations,” Modi said. “We are working together in a number of areas.”

Trump also sought to reassure Indians about the future of bilateral relations, promising continued support from his administration.

“As long as I’m president, they have a great friend in the White House,” he said. “They love India. They have tremendous respect for this man.”

In one of his warmest remarks on India-U.S. ties, Trump declared: “India can do anything they want with us. We have the best relationship.”

“We cannot be closer than we are. I don’t think we can be any closer—both he and I, and our nations,” he added.

India and the United States have significantly expanded cooperation in recent years across defence, technology, intelligence sharing and maritime security. The two nations are also members of the Quad grouping, alongside Australia and Japan, aimed at promoting a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific.

Trump’s remarks in Evian are likely to further reinforce the perception of India as a key strategic partner for the United States in an increasingly complex global landscape.

(The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)