Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, raised the issue of maritime security and the safety of Indian sailors during his bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France. Modi stressed that lakhs of Indians are working as seafarers and that their safety remains a key priority amid ongoing developments in West Asia.
Modi underlined the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, calling it vital for the global economy, and expressed confidence that the safety of seafarers would be given priority under the peace understanding between the United States and Iran. The Prime Minister also congratulated Trump for his diplomatic role in facilitating recent peace efforts in West Asia.
When asked about the deaths, Trump expressed condolences, saying, "I heard about that. It's a rough profession, there's no question about it. And we work together on it. We love all of those people, and they're great people."
Trump, speaking after the meeting, stated, "As long as I am President, India has a great friend in the White House," while also indicating that the two sides are close to finalising a trade deal and that he intends to visit India.
The discussion on seafarer safety took on added urgency following the deaths of three Indian sailors earlier this month during US military strikes on three commercial vessels off the coast of Oman. New Delhi had previously raised strong objections with Washington over the incident. The bilateral talks covered trade, West Asian peace, and maritime security.
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