Chandigarh – German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ) has reported that US President Donald Trump made at least four attempts to speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone in recent weeks, but the Indian leader reportedly declined all calls.
The report suggests Modi’s refusal reflects “the depth of his anger, but also his caution,” as ties between the two countries have experienced a downward spiral recently. The developments come ahead of the imposition of 50 per cent tariffs by the US on Indian goods, half of which are punitive measures linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil, while the other half stem from stalled trade negotiations over agriculture and dairy sector access.
Thorsten Benner, co-founder and director of the Berlin-based Global Public Policy Institute, shared the FAZ report on X, highlighting the repeated unsuccessful attempts by Trump to engage Modi. According to the newspaper, Modi resisted similar pressure during Trump’s first term, maintaining a cooperative relationship without compromising India’s economic interests.
FAZ also noted Trump’s tendency to finalize trade deals rapidly, citing his renegotiation of a pact with Vietnam during a single phone call, which Modi reportedly wished to avoid repeating. Other sources of irritation included Trump’s construction projects near New Delhi, controversial statements on the India-Pakistan conflict, and meetings with Pakistani officials, which were seen as provocative by Indian authorities.
Despite these tensions, the newspaper indicated that long-standing frictions in New Delhi are gradually easing. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that Modi spoke with Trump at the President’s request on June 17, marking the first conversation since the recent cross-border incidents and Operation Sindoor. The conversation reportedly lasted about 35 minutes, during which Modi briefed Trump on the operation.
