India avoided joint presser with Trump over his unpredictable behaviour: Report

India kept media arrangements cautious during Narendra Modi's June meeting with Donald Trump in France. The move reflected concern over Trump's unpredictability and the sensitivity around strained bilateral ties.

In Short

• US envoy Sergio Gor said New Delhi preferred avoiding audience questions
• Trump reportedly forgot the request and invited media questions anyway
• The leaders met in Evian-les-Bains alongside the June G7 summit

India sought to avoid questions from the media after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with US President Donald Trump in France in June because it was wary of Trump's "unpredictable behaviour", government sources told news agency PTI on Monday. The sources said India's cautious approach was influenced by Trump's interactions with foreign leaders, including the Presidents of South Africa and Ukraine.

The clarification followed remarks by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who said New Delhi had specifically asked the US side to avoid questions after the Modi-Trump meeting on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Gor made the comments during an interaction at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum on Saturday, recalling how he discussed India's preference with Trump before the meeting. According to the US envoy, Trump initially agreed but later appeared to forget the request and opened the floor to reporters himself.

Government sources cited by PTI said discussions over how leaders appear before the media are routine ahead of meetings involving heads of government and form part of standard protocol. One government source said foreign delegations can be wary of Trump's unpredictable behaviour during public interactions, particularly given his exchanges with other world leaders.

"Thus, the cautious approach by India," the source told PTI.

Another source described the discussions over the media arrangements as standard diplomatic practice rather than an unusual demand by New Delhi.

"Discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders are normal practice ahead of any VVIP visit. In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits," the source said.

This explanation effectively sought to frame the request as a standard diplomatic precaution rather than an attempt to keep the media away from the leaders.

PM Modi and Trump met on June 17 in Evian-les-Bains, France, on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Their meeting was closely watched as New Delhi and Washington sought to repair ties following months of tensions over tariffs, while negotiations over a bilateral trade agreement remained unresolved.

GOR RECALLS TRUMP'S UNEXPECTED PRESSER

Gor offered a detailed account of the events leading up to the meeting, saying he spoke privately with Trump about what India was expected to raise during the talks.

"We were behind the scenes, behind the stage, and at one point it was just the president and I, and he asked me, he goes, what the Indians are going to raise. We went over some topics," Gor said.

He said Trump then asked whether the Indian side had any specific requests.

"And he said, do they have any asks? And the MEA had one ask. He said, and it was, let's bring in the media, but let's not do a full press conference," the ambassador said.

Gor said he conveyed India's preference directly to Trump.

"I told the president, I said, the Indians prefer no questions. He said, sure, no problem," Gor recalled. However, the arrangement changed almost immediately after the meeting began. According to Gor, around 50 cameras were present as PM Modi and Trump sat together and delivered their opening remarks. Once the two leaders finished speaking, Trump turned towards the journalists and invited them to ask questions.

"And that opened everything up," Gor said, adding that the interaction eventually became "a 45-minute press conference" in which "everything was on the table".

PM FLAGGED HORMUZ SAFETY CONCERNS

The June meeting also carried significance beyond the media arrangements, coming amid heightened tensions in West Asia and concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

PM Modi raised the safety of Indian seafarers operating in the conflict zone with Trump, particularly after three Indian mariners were killed in an attack by the US Navy on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump, however, played down the risks faced by seafarers, describing it as a "rough profession".

The two leaders also discussed the situation around the Strait of Hormuz and the state of India-US trade negotiations. Trump said Washington would support India if it came under attack from another country.

- Ends
With inputs from PTI