PM Modi Rejects US President Trump Calls Amid Tariff Tensions

US President Donald Trump made at least four attempts to speak with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the phone in recent weeks, but Modi refused to answer, reflecting deep frustration and caution amid escalating trade tensions. The refusal comes as the US imposed tariffs of 25 to 50 percent on Indian goods, citing India's continued purchases of Russian oil, which Washington accuses of financing Russia's war efforts in Ukraine. Trump’s aggressive trade rhetoric, including calling India a "dead economy" and dismissing India's ties with Russia, further soured relations, prompting Modi to assert India's rise as a global economic power. German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung highlighted that Modi's rejection of Trump's calls signals a break from the usual pattern where foreign leaders eventually concede under US pressure. Analysts note that India's resistance challenges the American strategy of an Indo-Pacific alignment aimed at containing China, with India now edging closer to China despite historical grievances. Modi's cautious stance also stems from concerns about falling into pitfalls similar to those seen in previous US trade negotiations, such as the US-Vietnam deal unexpectedly upended by Trump.