French President Emmanuel Macron shared a video of Modi and Vance shaking hands at the Elysee Palace on Monday night on social media.
Prior to a trip to Washington, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had his first encounter with a member of the Trump administration when he met US Vice President JD Vance during a luncheon for world leaders attending the AI Action Summit in Paris.In a social media video, French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Vance on the Republican Party's victory in the US presidential election last November while also showing Modi shaking hands with him at the Elysee Palace on Monday night. "Congratulations. "Wonderful victory," Modi exclaimed. “Thanks so much,” Vance said. It's very good to see you.
Among the world leaders attending Tuesday's AI Action Summit, which Modi and Macron will co-chair, are Vance and Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing. Two days before the prime minister's first encounter with President Donald Trump in his second term, Modi and Vance met.
According to people with knowledge of the visit's preparations, Modi and Vance's casual encounter was confirmed only prior to the prime minister's arrival in Paris. They claimed that this was more of an introduction meeting and that Trump and Modi would discuss more of the important topics at their meeting on Thursday.
After wrapping up his bilateral meetings with Macron in the port city of Marseille, where the two leaders will open a new Indian consulate and discuss a variety of topics, including cooperation on artificial intelligence and civil nuclear energy, Modi will depart for the US on Wednesday.
Before leaving for the two-nation visit on Monday, the prime minister said he was looking forward to "meeting my friend" Trump and recalled "working together in his first term" to establish a comprehensive global strategic partnership with the US. Trump and Modi had a cordial relationship during the US president's first term.
Specifically in the areas of technology, trade, defense, energy, and supply chain resilience, Modi saw his trip to Washington as a "opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership."
Trump has signed a new set of executive orders, including 25% tariffs on imports of steel and aluminum, at the same time as Modi is scheduled to arrive in the US. This week, Trump also intends to impose reciprocal tariffs to match the rates other nations impose on US goods.
It is anticipated that Trump's steel and aluminum tariffs will worsen trade tensions and impact significant exporters including South Korea, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada. The US tariffs on steel imports have caused "deep concern," according to the Indian Steel Association, which stated on Monday that the action will disrupt international trade and make the steel industry's problems worse.
According to the Indian Steel Association, "this latest tariff is expected to cut steel exports to the US by 85%, creating a massive surplus that will likely flood India, one of the few major markets without trade restrictions presently."
The primary topics of Modi and Trump's meeting are likely to be trade, increased purchases of US-made military hardware, and energy cooperation. The Indian side anticipates "a more intense and continuing conversation" with the US on issues including trade, investment, technology, and energy, according to statements made by foreign secretary Vikram Misri last week.
The US deportation of 104 illegal migrants, who were returned in handcuffs and shackles on a military jet to Amritsar on February 5, has cast a shadow over the visit to the US. Nearly 600 migrants are now being sent back to India by the US, though the next deportation flight's itinerary is still unknown.
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