A casual remark by US President Donald Trump about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the G7 summit has spiralled into a diplomatic incident, with Italy's foreign minister cancelling a planned visit to Washington and Meloni herself publicly rejecting Trump's account as entirely fabricated.

In an interview with Italian broadcaster La7, Trump claimed that Meloni had "begged" him for a photograph during the recently concluded G7 summit in Evian, France. He reportedly said she wanted a picture with him "so badly" and that he agreed only because he "felt sorry for her." The remarks, casual in tone but cutting in implication, landed badly in Rome.

Meloni pushed back sharply. "Neither I nor Italy ever beg," she said in a public response, calling Trump's version of events "completely made up." She also took a pointed dig at the US president, suggesting he showed more indulgence toward Western adversaries than toward allies — a remark that underlined the depth of her irritation.

Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani went further, cancelling his scheduled visit to the United States next week and describing Trump's comments as an insult not just to Meloni personally, but to Italy as a whole. Giovanbattista Fazzolari, a close aide to Meloni and Undersecretary to the Prime Minister's Office, said Trump was — whether deliberately or not — damaging the historically strong relationship between the US and Europe. The biggest loser from this, he warned, would ultimately be America itself.

The spat is notable given how warm the Trump-Meloni relationship once appeared. The two right-wing leaders were seen as ideological allies, and at the G7 summit itself, there had been visible signs of a thaw after months of cooling ties. On the sidelines in Evian, Trump had jokingly told Meloni "you've abandoned me," to which she replied, "That's not true, we've always been friends." Days later, his interview comments painted a rather different picture of how he views that friendship.

The friction between the two has been building over substantive disagreements — particularly over Iran policy and Trump's public criticism of Pope Leo, which drew considerable backlash in Catholic-majority Italy.

On the sidelines of the same summit, the camaraderie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Meloni drew considerable attention. The two have developed a visible rapport across multiple international forums, with the hashtag Melodi gaining traction on social media. At Evian, Meloni jokingly told Modi they were Instagram's most talked-about pair. Their friendship gained viral attention earlier when Modi gifted Meloni India's well-known Melody toffees during his Rome visit — a video that reportedly crossed 100 million views online. Meloni has publicly called Modi the world's most popular leader.

Whether the Trump-Meloni row will have lasting consequences for US-Italy or broader US-Europe ties remains to be seen, but the cancellation of Tajani's visit signals Rome is in no mood to brush the episode aside.

A brief gesture between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump has become one of the most-discussed visuals from the 52nd G7 Summit, as the two leaders met face-to-face on Tuesday for the first time in 16 months.

The moment unfolded during the traditional G7 family photograph session, held on the terraces overlooking the lake in Évian-les-Bains. As leaders climbed onto the elevated podium for the group image, PM Modi was seen extending a hand to help Trump step up.

It lasted only seconds, but cameras caught it clearly, and the clip has since been widely shared online.

The gesture drew attention partly because of the backdrop against which it occurred. Ties between New Delhi and Washington have gone through a rocky patch in recent months, with trade disagreements and broader geopolitical friction occasionally spilling into public view. Against that setting, the small act of assistance was read by many observers as an informal icebreaker ahead of more substantive talks between the two leaders.

During the photo session, Modi and Trump stood alongside French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, among other G7 leaders and invited partners.

Once the photograph was taken, the leaders moved towards the outreach session. Modi and Trump were seen shaking hands and exchanging a few words, a brief interaction that again caught the attention of delegates and reporters present at the venue.

The real substance of the engagement, though, is expected on Wednesday, when Modi and Trump are scheduled to hold a formal bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the summit. According to officials from India's Ministry of External Affairs and the White House, cited by news agency ANI, the talks are expected to cover a long-pending trade agreement, deeper cooperation in defence manufacturing, maritime security arrangements, and collaboration in emerging technologies including artificial intelligence.

The timing matters. The meeting comes amid heightened regional tension, particularly around the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint that carries a significant share of the world's seaborne oil trade. Any disruption there has direct implications for energy prices and supply chains that both India and the US have an interest in stabilising.

Trade is likely to dominate Wednesday's conversation. Negotiators on both sides have been working through outstanding issues for months, and officials suggest the G7 sidelines could provide an opportunity to push the talks closer to a conclusion, though no timeline has been confirmed. Further details on what specifically will be signed or announced are awaited, with officials describing the discussions as still evolving.

For now, it is the podium moment that has captured public attention, even as the more consequential conversations between the two leaders are still to come.

In a historic first, Prime Minister Narendra Modi lands in Bratislava to bolster Central European ties following high-level defense and open-source AI breakthroughs with President Macron.

 Marking a significant milestone in India’s foreign policy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Slovak capital of Bratislava early Sunday morning. The visit represents the first-ever bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Slovakia since the Central European nation gained independence in 1993.

Arriving from the French city of Nice after intensive bilateral talks, PM Modi was received at the airport by Slovak Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Juraj Blanár. In a traditional gesture of goodwill and hospitality, the Prime Minister was presented with the customary bread and salt, which he accepted with folded hands before interacting with members of the local Indian diaspora.

Direct Talks in Bratislava

The Prime Minister’s itinerary in Bratislava involves crucial high-level meetings with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini and Prime Minister Robert Fico. Diplomatic sources familiar with the matter indicate that discussions will focus heavily on expanding economic ties, engineering collaborations, and addressing labor shortages in the region.

With more than 9,200 Indian nationals currently residing in Slovakia—primarily employed in information technology, research and development, and automotive engineering—the talks are expected to streamline professional mobility within the Schengen Area.

Deepening the Trade Corridor

Slovakia’s heavy industrial footprint presents a lucrative ecosystem for Indian trade. The country is a manufacturing powerhouse, producing over one million passenger cars annually through factories operated by Volkswagen, Kia, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volvo. The automotive sector alone accounts for a striking 14% of Slovakia's GDP.

India-Slovakia Trade Overview (2025)

| Indian Exports to Slovakia           | Indian Imports from Slovakia          |

| Small car components, Mobile phones, | Finished cars, Heavy machinery,       |

| Textiles, Apparel                    | Integrated electronics, Rubber        |

| Total Bilateral Trade Volume: Approx. ₹17,000 crore                          |

With Slovakia's domestic working population shrinking by 15,000 to 20,000 people annually, local authorities have confirmed an increasing reliance on skilled foreign workers, a gap India aims to fill through formal institutional mechanisms.

Breakthroughs in French Riviera

The Slovak leg follows a highly successful diplomatic weekend in France, where PM Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron signed 13 major agreements in Nice. Accompanied by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, the Indian delegation established a high-level Economic Security Dialogue designed to double bilateral trade over the next five years.

A major focus of the talks was the progress on the mega-deal for 114 Rafale fighter aircraft for the Indian Air Force, valued at approximately ₹3.25 lakh crore. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri noted that New Delhi's focus remains firmly on 'Make in India', seeking a complete transfer of technology, source code customization for domestic missile integration, and joint manufacturing.

The Third AI Alternative

In a significant departure from existing global technology paradigms, India and France announced a joint initiative to develop an open-source Artificial Intelligence model. The move aims to offer a democratic alternative to the profit-driven American model and the state-controlled Chinese framework.

"A decade ago, India was viewed merely as a technology adopter," Prime Minister Modi remarked during the launch of the 'Bharat Innovates 2026' programme in Nice. "Today, the nation stands as a technology provider and a generator of global solutions."

President Macron lauded India’s engineering depth, pointing out that India produces more than one million engineers annually—a talent pool comparable to the United States and Europe combined.

Eyes on Evian G7

Following his engagements in Bratislava, the Prime Minister will return to France to attend the G7 Summit in the lakeside town of Evian, hosted under the French presidency. Although India is not a formal member of the Group of Seven, it has been invited as a special guest nation, reflecting its position as a major global economy.

The Evian summit is set to tackle complex geopolitical flashpoints, including the ongoing Ukraine war, Middle East security challenges across Gaza and Lebanon, and international AI governance frameworks. While on the sidelines of the summit, PM Modi is also expected to hold a highly anticipated bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump to discuss global trade imbalances and regional security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with French President Emmanuel Macron in the French Riviera city of Nice on Saturday, as the two leaders sought to deepen the strategic partnership between India and France across technology, defence, and innovation. The meeting came on the first day of Modi’s six-day tour of France and Slovakia.

The leaders warmly embraced before jointly inaugurating the Bharat Innovates programme, a new global platform designed to connect Indian startups with international investors and experts.

Shared Vision Beyond Diplomacy

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Modi described the India-France relationship as one driven by “shared vision and common thinking.” He emphasised that the partnership extends far beyond trade and defence cooperation, being rooted in trust, democratic values, and a forward-looking approach to global challenges.

President Macron, in turn, hailed India as “a country of innovation” and a key partner in the Make in India initiative. He highlighted ongoing collaboration in defence, technology, artificial intelligence, and climate change, while expressing optimism about expanding ties in civilian nuclear energy, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

Spotlight on Startups and Youth

The Bharat Innovates event, running from June 14 to 16 at Palais des Expositions in Nice, brings together over 100 Indian startups with global venture capital funds. Modi noted that India is now home to more than 200,000 startups, many of which are addressing real-world problems in areas such as AI, quantum computing, biotechnology, and space technology.

The Prime Minister said young Indian entrepreneurs are no longer just consumers of technology but are emerging as solution providers for the world. The initiative aims to give Indian talent greater access to European and global investment networks.

Strong Defence and Strategic Ties

France has emerged as India’s second-largest defence supplier after Russia. Over the years, New Delhi has procured Mirage 2000 fighters, Rafale jets, and Scorpene submarines from Paris. French support remained steady even after India’s 1998 Pokhran nuclear tests when several Western nations imposed sanctions.

Macron has consistently backed India on global forums, including pushing for its permanent membership in the UN Security Council and entry into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

G7 Summit and Bilateral Engagements

Modi’s French visit includes participation in the G7 Summit in Evian from June 16-17, where he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with US President Donald Trump — their first in 16 months. The summit agenda is likely to cover the Ukraine conflict, Middle East tensions including the Strait of Hormuz, and artificial intelligence.

Sources indicated that discussions on a possible multilateral security arrangement for the Strait of Hormuz could see progress, with India favouring a UN-aligned framework involving partners like France and Britain.

On June 14 evening, the Prime Minister will travel to Slovakia for meetings with Prime Minister Robert Fico and President Peter Pellegrini — the first visit by an Indian PM to the country since its independence in 1993.

Cultural Connect and People-to-People Ties

A cultural programme marked the visit in Nice, where members of the Indian community greeted the Prime Minister warmly. Women from the diaspora also had the opportunity to interact with him. Modi is scheduled to visit Evian and Paris later in the tour, culminating with the VivaTech conference alongside Macron.

This marks Modi’s seventh visit to France as Prime Minister, underscoring the consistent priority both nations attach to the relationship.

Looking Ahead

As geopolitical uncertainties rise, the India-France partnership is seen as a pillar of stability. Cooperation in emerging technologies and clean energy is expected to gain further momentum in the coming months, with both sides committed to translating shared goals into tangible outcomes for their citizens and the wider world.