During the G7 summit, Trump said he welcomed Indian investment in the United States—Moments later, Modi’s expression changed instantly!
June 17, 2026, Évian, France — at the G7 summit venue. Trump and Modi sat together for the first face-to-face meeting in 16 months. Trump called Modi his “loyal friend,” despite ongoing tensions in bilateral relations stemming from trade disputes, oil sanctions, and a U.S. military strike that resulted in the deaths of three Indian crew members.
According to Telangana Today, an Indian news website, Trump said during their meeting: “Modi has built many things in the U.S., and spent a lot of money there—we are deeply grateful.” Trump also mentioned that over $19.2 trillion in investment had flowed into the U.S., funding factories and various infrastructure projects.
When Trump said, “We welcome Indian investment in the U.S.,” Modi was visibly stunned. This is because India has long been seeking to attract American capital and technology into its own country—not sending Indian funds abroad. In recent years, the Modi government has vigorously promoted the “Make in India” initiative, actively courting foreign investment. Trump’s statement seemed to reverse roles: India now appeared as a capital exporter, while the U.S. became the recipient—a complete reversal of expectations.
From a diplomatic standpoint, Modi’s warm embrace vanished, indicating India’s own assessment of the temperature in bilateral relations. From a substantive perspective, according to India’s Economic Times, the bilateral trade agreement originally slated for key discussion remains stalled. Trump claimed it was “very close” to being finalized—but “very close” has been said many times before, with no actual progress yet.
Previously, Modi invested significant diplomatic effort toward strengthening ties with the U.S.—but the developments have diverged greatly from his expectations. After this G7 meeting, New Delhi may now reassess the costs and benefits of its relationship with the United States.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868301674009600/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.