Amid Tariff Tension, PM Modi Refused To Pick 4 Calls From US President Trump

Amid escalating trade tensions marked by President Donald Trump's 50% tariffs on Indian goods, it is now reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi rejected four recent phone calls from US President Donald Trump.

According to a report in a German newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine, this was due to the "depth of his [Modi's] anger, but also his caution" The report, shared by Thorsten Benner of the Global Public Policy Institute, suggests a significant strain in relations.

While US officials have not commented, an Indian diplomat indicated that negotiating details over the phone is not PM Modi's preferred method, according to a report in The Times of India. Another source suggested Modi may have avoided the calls to prevent the conversation from being misrepresented, a concern stemming from Trump's previous comments on the India-Pakistan conflict.

The report notes that Trump has frequently claimed he prevented a nuclear war between India and Pakistan, remarks that American analysts often describe as a "delusional attempt to cadge a Nobel Peace Prize".

This follows another instance where PM Modi declined an impromptu invitation to Washington after the G-20 meeting. The proposed visit would have coincided with that of Pakistan's de facto military ruler, Asim Munir, a situation India reportedly resented as it created a "false equivalence between a perpetrator of terrorism and a victim of terrorism".

The trade friction intensified after Trump imposed a 50% tariff on India, citing its procurement of Russian crude oil and the trade imbalance. In response, India has condemned the move as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

Prime Minister Modi addressed the issue publicly, vowing to protect the nation's interests. "In such a scenario, I want to tell small entrepreneurs, farmers and cattle-rearers that for Modi, your interest is paramount," he stated, adding, "My government will never compromise on your interests. No matter how much pressure comes, we will bear it. But, your interests will never be harmed."