French President Emmanuel Macron shared a video on social media showing Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting US Senator J.D. Vance at the Élysée Palace on Monday night. Modi congratulated Vance on the Republican Party’s victory in the US presidential election last November, calling it a “great, great victory.”
Vance, along with Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing, is among the world leaders attending the AI Action Summit, co-chaired by Modi and Macron on Tuesday. The informal meeting between Modi and Vance was arranged shortly before the prime minister’s arrival in Paris, with substantial discussions reserved for Modi’s upcoming meeting with President Donald Trump on Thursday.
Modi’s US Visit & Key Agenda
After concluding his engagements in France, including the inauguration of a new Indian consulate in Marseille, Modi will travel to the US on Wednesday. His meeting with Trump will focus on:
✅ Trade & Tariffs – India’s concerns over Trump’s 25% tariffs on steel and aluminium imports, which threaten to cut Indian steel exports to the US by 85%.
✅ Defence Cooperation – Expanding India’s purchase of US military hardware.
✅ Energy & Supply Chains – Strengthening energy trade and technology collaboration.
✅ AI & Technology – Continuing the push for bilateral cooperation in cutting-edge sectors.
Before his departure, Modi expressed optimism about his talks with Trump, calling it an “opportunity to deepen the comprehensive global strategic partnership” built during Trump’s first term. With trade tensions on the rise, Thursday’s meeting is expected to set the course for India-US ties in Trump’s second term.
