Modi's Silence: Four Unanswered Calls from Trump Amid Tariff Disputes

Recent reports from a German newspaper reveal that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declined multiple phone calls from US President Donald Trump, a move attributed to Modi's anger and caution following the imposition of high tariffs by the US. The article delves into the context of these diplomatic tensions, including Trump's controversial remarks about India's economy and Modi's firm stance on trade negotiations. The last known communication between the two leaders is also highlighted, shedding light on the complexities of India-US relations amid ongoing geopolitical challenges. Read on to discover the implications of this diplomatic standoff.

By Narendra Chaudhary Aug 27, 2025, 01:34 IST

Modi's Response to Trump's Calls

According to the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly declined to answer at least four phone calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks. The newspaper suggests that this may reflect Modi's significant displeasure as well as his cautious approach.

Trump's attempts to connect with Modi followed the imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian goods by the US, marking the highest duty imposed on any nation except Brazil. Additionally, the Trump administration has taken action against India for its crude oil imports from Russia.

Thorsten Benner, Co-Founder and Director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, shared the report on social media, indicating that Trump had made four unsuccessful attempts to reach Modi.

The abbreviation FAZ stands for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, with 'Zeitung' translating to 'newspaper' in German.

On July 31, Trump remarked, 'I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together.'

In response to Trump's 'dead economy' comment, Modi asserted on August 10 that India is on a trajectory to become one of the world's top three economies.

FAZ noted signs of Modi's offense, stating, 'The fact that the Indian still refuses to talk demonstrates the depth of his anger, but also his caution.'

The publication elaborated on Modi's caution, suggesting he aims to avoid falling into a similar situation as before, referencing Trump's previous claims of a trade deal that had not been finalized.

The Last Communication Between Modi and Trump

The last conversation between PM Modi and Trump occurred on June 17 at Trump's request. They were supposed to meet during the G7 Summit in Canada, but Trump returned to the US earlier than anticipated, as reported by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

Following this, at Trump's request, the two leaders had a phone call on July 17, which lasted around 35 minutes, according to the MEA's statement released on June 18.

This marked their first discussion since the attack and Operation Sindoor, with the MEA noting that Modi elaborated on Operation Sindoor during the call.

Modi made it clear to Trump that there had been no discussions regarding an India-US Trade Deal or any proposals for US mediation between India and Pakistan during the entire sequence of events.

The MEA emphasized that discussions to halt military actions were conducted directly between India and Pakistan, initiated at Pakistan's request. Modi firmly stated that India does not accept and will never accept mediation, highlighting a strong political consensus on this issue.