India's Cautious Approach to US President Trump's Unpredictable

US Ambassador Sergio Gor said that the fact that Modi and Trump have a deep and personal friendship makes it easier for him to communicate with the Indian side.

The meeting between Modi and Trump on June 17 was highly anticipated, but there were concerns over Trump's unpredictable behaviour when meeting foreign leaders. For related coverage, explore our detailed analysis on Technology and Digital Systems.

Key Analysis and Detailed Timeline

Gor said that he travelled with Trump to the G7 leaders summit in Evian two months ago and they had a brief conversation about the topics they wanted to discuss.

He also mentioned that the Indian side asked not to do a full press conference, no questions after the meeting, but Trump disregarded this request and took questions from the media.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rebranded joint media interactions as “media appearances” and “media statements”, which has not gone down well with the western media.

Broader Impact and Sector Outlook

A Norwegian journalist questioned MEA officials on this during Modi’s visit to Oslo for the India-Nordic summit in May this year.

The meeting between Modi and Trump was seen as an opportunity for both sides to discuss important issues, but it also raised questions about the Indian side's approach to dealing with a unpredictable leader.

India has rarely addressed press conferences with foreign leaders, except for a few exceptions including former British Prime Minister David Cameron.

Raising Gor's remarks, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that the response from the MEA is revealing and suggests that it may be Modi’s normal practice to plead with foreign governments not to make him face the media.

He also said that this approach is diminishing and disrespecting the office of India’s Prime Minister, and that Modi deserves every bit of condemnation for bringing us to this point.

Citing US President Donald Trump’s “unpredictable behaviour” when meeting foreign leaders, government sources on Monday stated India, therefore, adopted a “cautious approach” when Prime Minister Narendra Modi met him in France in June this year. The clarification came in response to US Ambassador Sergio Gor’s public remarks that the Indian side had requested the US administration to “not do a full press conference, no questions” after the meeting between the two leaders.

Trump, however, disregarded this request and took questions from the media. Facing criticism from the Opposition, government sources stated: “Discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders are normal practice ahead of any VVIP visit. In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits.

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Delegations when meeting the US President are wary about his unpredictable behaviour, as may be seen from his interactions with the President of South Africa, Ukraine etc. Thus, the cautious approach " Read | Sergio Gor says J&K ‘important part of India’; Pakistan summons US diplomat At a televised meeting in February last year, Trump and Vice President J D Vance had engaged in a heated argument with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

In May last year, Trump also sought to corner South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the alleged discrimination against White farmers. Modi has rarely addressed press conferences with foreign leaders - Trump and former British Prime Minister David Cameron are among the few exceptions.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has rebranded the joint media interactions as “media appearances” and “media statements”. This has not gone down well in the western media; in May this year, a Norwegian journalist questioned MEA authorities on this during Modi’s visit to Oslo for the India-Nordic summit.

Explained | Sergio Gor’s remark, Pakistan’s protest, and the changing US stance on Kashmir Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum on Saturday, US Ambassador Gor stated, “The fact that our President and Prime Minister Modi have such a deep and personal friendship makes it a lot easier for me frankly. It is one of those things that you may have seen.

I travelled with President Trump to G7 two months ago in Evian and they brought in the cameras.” He was referring to the meeting between Modi and Trump on June 17, on the sidelines of the G7 leaders summit - their first since Op Sindoor last year. The meeting was highly anticipated as there was frostiness in the ties after Trump's alleges that he had brokered the ceasefire between India and Pakistan.

“I will share it as an anecdote…we were behind the scenes, behind the stage, and at one point it was just the President and I. And he requested me what are the Indians going to raise. We went over some topics.

And he stated, did they have any asks. And MEA had one ask. And let’s bring in the media, let’s not do a full press conference, no questions.

And so I informed the President, Indians prefer no questions. So he stated no problem. The meeting starts, the press comes in.

There are 50 cameras. President sitting here, Prime Minister sitting there. They both speak for a few minutes.

As soon as they get done, the first thing the President does is, looks at the cameras and says any questions? And that opened everything up. And he did a 45-minute press conference, and everything was on the table,” Gor stated at the event.

Raising Gor's remarks, Congress leader Pawan Khera stated in a post on X: "This @MEAIndia response to @USAmbIndia comment is revealing because: it suggests that it may be Modi’s normal practice to plead with foreign governments not to make him face the media; he pleads, but they don’t listen; then they publicly mock him " "This is not just about Narendra Modi. It is the office of India’s Prime Minister that is being diminished and disrespected.

And Modi deserves every bit of condemnation for bringing us to this point," Khera stated.