New Delhi: In a striking development underscoring tensions between New Delhi and Washington, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly declined four calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks, according to Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), citing unnamed sources. The newspaper attributed the snub to both the “depth of Modi’s anger” over punitive trade measures and his strategic caution.
Japan’s Nikkei Asia echoed similar claims, noting that Modi’s avoidance of Trump’s calls appears to have “heightened the US president’s frustration.”
The communication freeze comes against the backdrop of a sharp trade dispute. President Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods, imposing up to 50% duties the highest for any nation other than Brazil. Additional duties of 25% were slapped on India’s imports of Russian crude oil.
New Delhi has remained resolute, with PM Modi asserting that India “will never compromise” on its farmers’ interests. FAZ reported that the tariff clash has visibly insulted the Indian premier, highlighting that his refusal to engage directly with Trump reflects the gravity of his irritation.
The German newspaper also noted the strain added by Trump’s comments on Pakistan. Since May, Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for mediating peace between India and Pakistan a claim New Delhi refutes. Analysts say this “showy, deal-driven style of diplomacy” has further complicated the bilateral relationship.
Mark Frazier, analyst at the India-China Institute in New York, told FAZ that the US vision of an Indo-Pacific alignment where India acts as a counterbalance to China is “falling apart.” While India and the US have drawn closer over the past two decades to counter Beijing, Trump’s punitive tariffs have revealed cracks in the partnership.
Frazier emphasized that New Delhi’s strategic considerations extend beyond a tariff response. “India and China share interests in global influence and industrial growth. Chinese investment and technology can strengthen Indian industry, while India can assist Beijing in boosting its global economic and geopolitical footprint,” he explained.
PM Modi is scheduled to visit China at the end of August to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit. This will be Modi’s first visit to China since rising tensions in the region, and is widely seen as a move to recalibrate relations with Beijing while monitoring the evolving US-China dynamic.
The developments signal a nuanced recalibration of India’s foreign policy priorities, balancing traditional strategic partnerships with pragmatic economic and geopolitical considerations in an increasingly complex global landscape.