Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has declined to respond to at least four phone calls from US President Donald Trump in recent weeks, according to a report by the German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
The newspaper, citing diplomatic sources, said Modi deliberately chose not to engage with Trump, reflecting tensions over Washington’s mounting pressure on New Delhi to halt Russian oil imports.
The reported snub comes as the US has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude — a move that has further strained trade ties.
FAZ suggests Modi’s decision was a calculated diplomatic strategy aimed at avoiding Trump’s hardline negotiating style rather than an impulsive reaction.
The episode underscores the fragile balance in US-India relations, where cooperation in security and technology is often tested by economic frictions and geopolitical alignments.
