PM Modi Reportedly Avoided Trump's Calls Amid Trade Tensions, Says Indian Diplomat

 

PM Modi Reportedly Avoided Trump's Calls Amid Trade Tensions, Says Indian Diplomat

A senior Indian diplomat has clarified that Prime Minister Narendra Modi refrains from discussing sensitive or detailed matters over the phone — a statement that comes in response to international media reports claiming that Modi declined several calls from former U.S. President Donald Trump.

According to a report by The Times of India, the diplomat explained that Modi generally avoids high-stakes negotiations via telephone. The clarification follows a report by German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, which alleged that Modi ignored as many as four calls from Trump during an escalating trade dispute. Japanese outlet Nikkei Asia also published a similar account, suggesting that Trump grew increasingly frustrated with the lack of response from New Delhi.

U.S. officials have neither confirmed nor denied the claims about the attempted calls. However, the Indian diplomat’s remarks appear to be an attempt to downplay the narrative that Modi deliberately snubbed the American leader.

Another source cited in the TOI report suggested that Modi may have chosen to avoid direct communication in order to prevent any potential misrepresentation of the conversation’s outcome — a concern India has previously voiced, especially in the context of Trump’s comments on the India-Pakistan conflict.

Over the past year, Trump repeatedly claimed to have played a role in defusing a potential nuclear escalation between India and Pakistan, often referencing fluctuating details such as the number of fighter jets lost and the timeline of events. Many U.S.-based analysts, however, have questioned the accuracy of such claims, viewing them as political efforts to boost Trump’s image as a global peacemaker.

The reported diplomatic friction was further highlighted by Modi’s decision to turn down Trump’s last-minute invitation to the White House following the G-20 summit in Canada. Trump had extended the same invitation to Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, portraying himself as a mediator — a move that drew criticism from New Delhi. Indian officials argued that such actions blurred the line between "a victim of terrorism and its perpetrator."

Adding to the strain, former U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has noted a sense of growing resentment in New Delhi. In his writings, he highlighted that India felt unfairly targeted by Washington, as it was the only major democracy facing the threat of U.S. tariffs and sanctions, even while countries like Russia and China appeared to face fewer repercussions.

Although these reports remain unverified by independent sources such as Business Today, they reflect the broader tensions that characterized India-U.S. relations during the latter part of Trump’s presidency — a period marked by strategic ambiguity, competing narratives, and the high stakes of global diplomacy.