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G20 summit: PM Modi discusses Iran, 5G, trade tariffs with US President Donald Trump

The Modi-Trump meeting assumes significance as the US president, championing his 'America First' policy, has been a vocal critic of India for levying "tremendously high" duties on US products.

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PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump meet in Japan. (Photo: @PMOIndia on Twitter)
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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday held bilateral talks with US President Donald Trump and discussed a host of key issues including trade, defence and 5G communications networks ahead of the formal opening of the G-20 Summit.

Modi said that he wanted to discuss Iran, 5G, bilateral relations and defence relations with Trump.

Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale later said that the issue of S-400 defence missiles wasn't discussed.

The two countries had earlier come to a disagreement regarding India's entry into an arms deal with Russia for buying S-400 defence missiles. Owing to the US imposing sanctions on military deals with Russia under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), India was likely to push for a waiver regarding the same.

The Foreign Secretary further said that on Iran, the primary focus was on how to ensure stability there, "not just in matter of energy needs", but also in terms of the 'large' Indian diaspora in the Gulf.

 

 

Stressing on working towards a 'positive relationship with the US', Modi said in the meeting that he and Trump talked about various issues. "The India-US vision is far-sighted and positive," PM Modi added.  

He also thanked the US President for expressing his "love towards India" in a letter recently delivered by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

 

 

Trump congratulated Modi on his election victory and said that the two countries would work together in many areas including military.

"It was a big victory, you deserve it, you have done a great job. We have big things to announce. In terms of trade, in terms of manufacturing, we would be discussing 5G. I congratulate you and I look forward to talks," Trump said. He also added that the two countries have never been closer.

The two leaders met shortly after the Japan-America-India trilateral meeting during which Modi highlighted "the importance India attaches to" the grouping.

The Modi-Trump meeting assumes significance as the US president, championing his 'America First' policy, has been a vocal critic of India for levying "tremendously high" duties on US products.

The two countries had also come to a disagreement regarding India's entry into an arms deal with Russia for buying S-400 defence missiles. Owing to the US imposing sanctions on military deals with Russia under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), India is likely to push for a waiver regarding the same.

Before his arrival in Japan on Thursday, Trump tweeted, "I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!" This was Modi's first meeting with Trump after the BJP's landslide win in the parliamentary election.

 

(With inputs from PTI)

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