As trade tensions between the US and India continue to escalate, a German media report has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not respond to multiple phone calls from US President Donald Trump during the period. The report, published by the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), suggests that Washington’s typical playbook of pressure and public rhetoric may be falling flat in Delhi.
The article claims that President Trump attempted to contact PM Modi on four separate occasions, reportedly in an effort to press India to halt its purchase of Russian oil and to further open its agricultural markets to US companies. However, Modi is said to have deliberately avoided engaging with Trump, according to the report. No specific dates for the alleged calls were provided, and Indian officials have not stated the matter.
According to the FAZ, PM Modi’s unresponsiveness may reflect a calculated strategy rather than a simple diplomatic snub. The paper interprets his stance as a mix of frustration over US tactics and a desire to avoid becoming a prop in Trump’s media-driven negotiations.
India has continued to buy discounted Russian oil despite Western pressure, with the Modi Government defending the move on the grounds of national interest and energy security. Meanwhile, Washington has maintained that such purchases undermine international sanctions and indirectly support Russia’s military efforts in Ukraine.
The German report argues that Trump’s hallmark approach — marked by threats, public posturing, and tariff impositions — has failed to achieve the intended results with India, in contrast to previous outcomes with other trading partners.
Further, the article references a previous incident involving Vietnam, where Trump prematurely announced a trade deal on social media that never materialised. According to the report, Modi is wary of being drawn into similar publicity stunts, particularly in the context of sensitive trade negotiations.
At the time of going to press, there has been no official response from Delhi, the Indian Government has neither confirmed nor denied the claims made in the German report. The absence of a formal response leaves the nature and context of the reported calls unverified. US embassy in Delhi also did not comment on the report.
Nonetheless, the report underscores the growing complexity of the India-US relationship, especially at the intersection of global geopolitics, trade, and energy policy. With the US imposing new tariffs on Indian goods and threatening further action, it remains to be seen how both sides will navigate the evolving diplomatic landscape.