The German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine, published claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi declined at least four phone calls from former US President Donald Trump in recent weeks. The report indicates that Modi’s actions demonstrate both anger and caution, likely in response to growing trade tensions between India and the United States.
The attempts by Trump to reach Modi followed the US’s imposition of significant tariffs on India, reaching a 50% rate, which is the highest for all nations excluding Brazil. Additionally, the US penalized India for its import of crude oil from Russia.
Trump’s public statements, including his July 31st remark, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together,” further strained relations. Modi responded on August 10, emphasizing India’s economic growth and its goal to become a top global economy.
The newspaper notes that Modi’s refusal to engage with Trump reflects “the depth of his anger, but also his caution.” The paper suggests that Modi was wary of repeating past experiences where Trump prematurely announced a trade agreement.
The last known conversation between the two leaders took place on June 17, initiated by Trump. This conversation lasted approximately 35 minutes and primarily focused on the attack and Operation Sindoor. During the call, Modi clarified there was no discussion regarding a trade deal or potential mediation between India and Pakistan.