Amid turmoil in US, Trump calls Modi to invite him for G7 summit

WASHINGTON/ NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 summit to be held in the US later this year, acting on his desire to expand the size and scope of the grouping of major world economic powers.

The two spoke over phone for 25 minutes even as racial tensions roiled America, discussing a range of topics including the situation on the India-China border, the Covid-19 pandemic and the need for reforms in the World Health Organisation. The Indian statement said Modi expressed concern regarding the ongoing civil disturbances in the US, and conveyed his best wishes for an early resolution of the situation.

Modi commended Trump’s views on an expanded G7 as a “creative and far-sighted approach”, acknowledging that such a development would be in keeping with the emerging realities of the post-Covid world. The PM said India would be happy to work with the US and other countries to ensure the success of the summit.

Importantly, the Indian statement said the two leaders exchanged views on other topical issues,