Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly declined four phone calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks, amid escalating tensions over tariffs, according to a report by German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). Citing diplomatic sources, the newspaper said Modi’s refusal reflected both “the depth of his anger and his caution.” Japanese outlet Nikkei Asia echoed the claim, noting that Trump’s frustration has grown as Modi avoided engaging directly.

The friction follows Washington’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, the steepest for any country after Brazil. This includes an additional 25 per cent levy linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Modi has publicly asserted that India will not compromise on its farmers’ interests or bow to foreign pressure, a stance underscored by New Delhi’s firm response to US actions.

According to NDTV, the dispute illustrates India’s readiness to resist Washington’s demands, even at the cost of straining a strategic partnership nurtured for over two decades. FAZ added that Modi felt personally “insulted” by Trump’s approach.

The tension is compounded by Trump’s repeated claims that his intervention prevented hostilities between India and Pakistan — a statement New Delhi has consistently rejected. His outreach to Islamabad, coupled with what Japanese commentators described as a “showy, deal-driven diplomacy,” has dented his standing in Indian public perception.

Analyst Mark Frazier told FAZ that Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, with India as a central pillar against China, is faltering. He argued New Delhi never intended to align fully with the US against Beijing, highlighting shared India-China interests in global institutions and industrial growth.

PM Modi will travel to China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a visit seen as a balancing act amid shifting global equations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly declined four phone calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks, amid escalating tensions over tariffs, according to a report by German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ). Citing diplomatic sources, the newspaper said Modi’s refusal reflected both “the depth of his anger and his caution.” Japanese outlet Nikkei Asia echoed the claim, noting that Trump’s frustration has grown as Modi avoided engaging directly.

The friction follows Washington’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, the steepest for any country after Brazil. This includes an additional 25 per cent levy linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Modi has publicly asserted that India will not compromise on its farmers’ interests or bow to foreign pressure, a stance underscored by New Delhi’s firm response to US actions.

According to NDTV, the dispute illustrates India’s readiness to resist Washington’s demands, even at the cost of straining a strategic partnership nurtured for over two decades. FAZ added that Modi felt personally “insulted” by Trump’s approach.

The tension is compounded by Trump’s repeated claims that his intervention prevented hostilities between India and Pakistan — a statement New Delhi has consistently rejected. His outreach to Islamabad, coupled with what Japanese commentators described as a “showy, deal-driven diplomacy,” has dented his standing in Indian public perception.

Analyst Mark Frazier told FAZ that Washington’s Indo-Pacific strategy, with India as a central pillar against China, is faltering. He argued New Delhi never intended to align fully with the US against Beijing, highlighting shared India-China interests in global institutions and industrial growth.

PM Modi will travel to China later this month to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, a visit seen as a balancing act amid shifting global equations