Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declined to take at least four recent phone calls from U.S. President Donald Trump, according to a report published by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). The report, citing diplomatic sources familiar with the matter, states the attempted calls occurred in recent weeks amid rising trade tensions between India and the United States. The alleged refusals come at a time of increasing strain in bilateral relations following a series of economic measures implemented by the United States. Earlier this month, the Trump administration imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on a range of Indian exports.
The initial 25 percent tariffs were announced as reciprocal trade measures, followed by an additional 25 percent penalty reportedly tied to India’s ongoing purchases of discounted Russian oil. The FAZ report indicated that U.S. officials had made multiple attempts to arrange a direct phone conversation between Trump and Modi, but the Indian leader did not respond. No official comment has been made by either the Indian Ministry of External Affairs or the U.S. State Department regarding the claims, and there has been no public confirmation from the offices of either leader.
The recent developments mark a significant shift in what had been a publicly stable relationship between the two nations. India and the United States have maintained strong defense and trade ties in recent years, with several rounds of negotiations aimed at increasing bilateral trade to $500 billion annually by the end of the decade. However, those talks have stalled since the announcement of the tariffs and no new rounds have been scheduled.
US tariffs trigger new low in India-US diplomatic ties
In parallel to the trade dispute, diplomatic friction has grown over claims made by the Trump administration regarding regional security issues. Statements issued by U.S. officials earlier this month referenced Washington’s alleged role in brokering a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan. India formally rejected that characterization, stating that the military communication leading to the agreement occurred bilaterally and independently.
There has been no indication that Modi’s office plans to re-engage at the presidential level at this time. The Indian government has continued its broader diplomatic engagements and has not publicly addressed the status of calls from the former U.S. president. The lack of official communication on the matter has not deterred media coverage, as the FAZ report was widely picked up by Indian and international outlets on August 26. The stalled negotiations and heightened tariffs have had measurable economic consequences.
Modi’s office remains unresponsive to US outreach
Exporters in sectors including pharmaceuticals, textiles, and automotive parts have reported increased pressure due to the elevated cost of access to the U.S. market. Officials from India’s Commerce Ministry have previously stated that the tariffs are being reviewed internally and responses will be made through formal trade channels. India remains a key strategic partner for the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. The two countries are members of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, or Quad, along with Japan and Australia, and have cooperated on defense logistics and cybersecurity.
However, no high-level joint statements or meetings between Modi and Trump have taken place since the beginning of August. The report of repeated unanswered calls adds another layer to the current diplomatic standoff. With both sides maintaining public silence on the specifics of recent communications, formal engagement between the two leaders remains in question. The situation continues to draw international attention as one of the most visible tests of U.S.-India relations in recent years. – By Content Syndication Services.