Trump Invites Modi To G-7 Summit, Discusses Indo-China Dispute, George Floyd Protests

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump discussed several issues including escalating India-China border tensions and the swelling protests in the United States after the death of a black man in police custody during a 25-minute telephone conversation on Tuesday. Trump extended an invitation to Modi to attend the G-7 Summit which is going to be held in the US.

Last week, Trump said that the US is willing to mediate or arbitrate the raging border dispute. China rejected US President's offer, saying that they don't need the intervention of any third party.

After the telephonic conversation, PM Modi took to his Twitter and tweeted as, "Had a warm and productive conversation with my friend President Donald Trump. We discussed his plans for the US Presidency of G-7, the COVID-19 pandemic, and many other issues." He further tweeted as, "The richness and depth of India-US consultations will remain an important pillar of the post-COVID global architecture."

G-7 is a group of top seven developed economies (US, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada), and every year, the heads of the states meet to discuss on various issues like global governance, including climate change, security and the economy. Trump has postponed the G7 Summit till September.

The government said in a statement that, “President Trump conveyed his desire to expand the ambit of the grouping beyond the existing membership, to include other important countries including India. Prime Minister Modi expressed concern regarding the ongoing civil disturbances in the US, and conveyed his best wishes for an early resolution of the situation.”

Elliot Engel, chief of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee said, "I strongly urge China to respect norms and use diplomacy and existing mechanisms to resolve its border questions with India." The standoff between India and China is a very serious issue.