‘Has been happening throughout time’: Trump says after deaths of 3 Indian seafarers
text_fields
Photo: IANS
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that seafaring was a difficult profession when asked about condolences for the families of three Indian sailors who were killed in US military strikes on commercial vessels in West Asia last week.
During a press briefing with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump said such incidents had occurred throughout history and expressed sympathy for those affected.
The remarks came a week after three Indian nationals were killed and several others evacuated after US forces carried out repeated strikes on commercial ships in West Asia, alleging violations of sanctions and a regional blockade, Scroll.in reported.
Following the incident, India had summoned the US chargé d’affaires twice to formally raise its concerns,
During the meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the importance of ensuring the safety of Indian seafarers. He said thousands of Indian maritime workers operate on international trade routes, including through the Strait of Hormuz, and their security remained a major priority for India.
Modi also praised Trump for efforts aimed at restoring peace in West Asia and stressed that keeping the Strait of Hormuz open was vital for the global economy. He expressed confidence that the concerns of seafarers would receive due attention while implementing the US peace agreement with Iran.
Trump said discussions between the US and India covered several areas, including a possible trade agreement. He also said Washington would support India in the event of an attack and described defence ties between the two countries as strong.
Responding to questions on the Ukraine war, Trump repeated his claim that he had helped end several conflicts. He again included the India-Pakistan tensions of May 2025 among the disputes he said he had helped resolve, a claim that New Delhi has previously rejected.
The meeting between Modi and Trump was held during the G7 summit in France, where India participated as an invited country. It was the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders since Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025.