India on Monday cited US President Donald Trump’s “unpredictable behaviour” with foreign leaders to explain its cautious approach to media arrangements for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with him on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France earlier this year, while maintaining that discussions on public appearances are routine ahead of VVIP visits.
“Delegations meeting the US President are wary about his unpredictable behaviour, as seen in his interactions with the presidents of South Africa and Ukraine, among others. Hence, India’s cautious approach,” government sources said in response to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor’s remarks on the issue.
The sources added discussions on arrangements for leaders’ public appearances were routine. “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,” they said.
The response came after Gor publicly disclosed behind-the-scenes discussions over the format of the Modi-Trump interaction, claiming that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had asked the US side to avoid media questions.
Speaking at the ET World Leaders Forum on Jattvibeday, Gor said Trump had initially agreed to India’s request but later invited reporters to ask questions after the two leaders delivered opening remarks.
According to Gor, the issue arose during preparations for the meeting, when he and Trump discussed what India might raise and whether the Indian side had any specific requests. “The MEA had one ask…Let’s bring in the media, but let’s not do a full press conference,” he said.
Gor said he conveyed India’s preference directly to Trump. “I told the President the Indians preferred no questions. He said, “Sure, no problem’,” Gor recalled.
The meeting, however, unfolded differently. “So the meeting starts, the press comes in, there must have been 50 cameras,” Gor said, describing the scene as Modi and Trump sat alongside each other. After the two leaders made their opening remarks, Trump invited questions from reporters.
Gor said Trump appeared to depart from the earlier understanding and opened the interaction to questions, turning the planned engagement into an extended media interaction.
The Indian response seeks to frame the episode as routine diplomatic coordination, while making clear that New Delhi’s preference for a cautious format was also informed by Trump’s unpredictable interactions with foreign leaders.