Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US Vice President J.D. Vance on the sidelines of a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
It was PM Modi's first engagement with the top leadership of the Trump administration as he prepares for his visit to Washington.
While speaking to him, PM Modi congratulated Vance on his electoral victory.
"Congratulations. Great, great victory," he said while shaking hands with the US Vice President.
The Prime Minister's Office shared the photos of the interaction, stating, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi interacted with French President Emmanuel Macron and US Vice President J.D. Vance."
After his engagements in France, PM Modi will travel to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. His visit will further strengthen India's global partnerships, with a particular focus on technology, defence, and economic cooperation.
Before leaving, PM Modi recalled his previous collaboration with Trump during the first term of the Republican leader and expressed eagerness to meet him again.
"Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US," PM Modi said in a statement.
He emphasised that the visit would provide an opportunity to build on past successes and develop a forward-looking agenda in key sectors such as trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience.
"This visit will be an opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership," he added.
PM Modi and Trump are likely to discuss a range of strategic issues, including trade policies, defence cooperation, and global security challenges. The visit assumes significance in the backdrop of recent policy shifts in the US, including deportation measures affecting Indian nationals and discussions on reciprocal tariffs.
Last month, the two leaders held a phone call where Trump went on to stress that India must increase its defense purchases from the US while pushing for a balanced trade relationship. They also touched on the QUAD alliance and ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Before heading to Washington, PM Modi will co-chair the AI Action Summit with President Macron, bringing together global leaders and industry experts to deliberate on AI-driven technological advancements for public welfare.
The visit also marks a diplomatic milestone as PM Modi and Macron will jointly inaugurate India's first consulate in Marseille, further strengthening Indo-French ties.
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