Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance met on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit in Paris on Monday night. The informal meeting took place at a dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace, ahead of the high-profile summit.
This marks PM Modi’s first official interaction with a senior member of President Donald Trump’s administration since his return to power. The AI Action Summit, co-chaired by Modi and Macron, aims to foster international cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) governance, ethics, and innovation.
Modi Congratulates Vance on Republican Victory
A video posted by Emmanuel Macron on social media captured the moment when PM Modi shook hands with JD Vance and congratulated him on the Republican Party’s victory in the US presidential election last November.
> “Congratulations. Great, great victory,” Modi told Vance.
“Thank you so much. So nice to see you,” Vance responded warmly.
An Introductory Meeting Before Modi-Trump Talks
Sources familiar with the meeting revealed that the Modi-Vance interaction was planned shortly before the Prime Minister’s arrival in Paris. While this was an introductory discussion, the more substantial bilateral issues are expected to be taken up in PM Modi’s upcoming meeting with President Trump in Washington.
AI Action Summit Brings Together Global Leaders
The AI Action Summit is a crucial global event that has brought together world leaders, including:
Chinese Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing
US Vice President JD Vance
French President Emmanuel Macron
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
The summit will focus on international AI policies, ethical AI development, and collaboration on emerging technologies.
Modi’s Itinerary: From France to the US
After his engagements in Paris, PM Modi will travel to the United States on Wednesday. Before departing for Washington, he and Macron will visit Marseille, where they will:
Inaugurate a new Indian consulate
Hold discussions on AI, civil nuclear energy, and defense collaboration
This visit reinforces the growing India-France strategic partnership, especially in the fields of technology, defense, and AI-driven economic cooperation.
Modi-Trump Meeting: Strengthening India-US Relations
PM Modi and President Trump share a strong diplomatic relationship. Before his departure for the two-nation tour, Modi recalled working closely with Trump during his first term and expressed his enthusiasm for their upcoming meeting.
The India-US talks are expected to cover:
Strengthening the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership
Advancements in AI, defense, and economic cooperation
Regional security and Indo-Pacific collaboration
PM Narendra Modi’s meeting with US Vice President JD Vance at the AI Action Summit signals the beginning of renewed India-US diplomatic engagements under Trump’s second term. With Modi set to meet President Trump in Washington, the visit could pave the way for stronger AI collaborations, economic growth, and strategic alliances between the two nations.