U.S. President Donald Trump no longer has plans to visit India in the fall when Quad members meet for a summit, The New York Times reported amid deteriorating bilateral relationship over ‘crushing’ 50% tariffs on Indian imports into the United States. Quad meeting
In a piece headlined “The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unraveled,” the newspaper traces some of the key developments that led to downturn in U.S.-India, once seen as one of the major relationships of the 21st century.
“Mr. Modi, who once called Mr. Trump “a true friend,” was officially on the outs. After telling Mr. Modi that he would travel to India later this year for the Quad summit, Mr. Trump no longer has plans to visit in the fall,” the paper said citing people familiar with the president’s schedule. Quad meeting
The White House and New Delhi have not yet officially confirmed or denied the reported development. Quad meeting
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New Delhi, which has termed the tariffs on Indian goods as “unjustified,” has, meanwhile, stepped up its effort to win China’s backing for its stance not to open agricultural sector to the United States– seen in Washington as protectionists and harmful to U.S. businesses.
Days after the U.S. punishing tariffs – reflecting Washington’s frustration with India’s refusal to stop bailing out Moscow with massive purchases of Russian oil during the ongoing Ukraine conflict – Modi was in Beijing for a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Quad meeting
However, tariffs are not the only factor that have triggered a rapid decline in the ties.
According to Times, frustration in Trump’s relationship with Modi spiraled when the Indian leader contradicted Trump on the role he claimed to have played in stopping India-Pakistan conflict in May. Quad meeting
President Trump, in not-so-subtle terms, floated the possibility of India nominating him for the Nobel prize in a call where Mr. Modi had come to do the opposite: to get him to stop claiming credit.
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President Trump had repeatedly and enthusiastically claimed that he had “resolved” the long-standing military tensions between India and Pakistan—a conflict that has spanned over 75 years and is far more complex than he suggested, the Times noted.
During a phone conversation on June 17, Trump once again brought up the topic, proudly asserting that he had ended the military escalation. He even mentioned that Pakistan intended to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize—an award he had been openly pursuing, the paper reported. Quad meeting
The NYT piece citing individuals familiar with the call, claims, Trump subtly implied that Modi should consider nominating him as well. Quad meeting
“Modi was unimpressed. He firmly responded that the United States had played no role in the recent cease-fire, which was negotiated directly between India and Pakistan.
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Trump largely dismissed Modi’s remarks, but the disagreement—especially Modi’s unwillingness to entertain the idea of a Nobel nomination—became a significant strain on their relationship.
“The once-warm rapport between the two leaders, which began during Trump’s first term, began to deteriorate.”
This diplomatic rift unfolded amid crucial trade negotiations between the two countries, with broader geopolitical implications.
“The fallout risked pushing India closer to rival powers like China and Russia.”
Modi, during his ongoing visit to Beijing, met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and also planned to have a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the margins of Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
China is using the SCO summit to showcase its power and influence in Asia and other parts of the world.
The NYT said its account is based on interviews with over a dozen sources in Washington and New Delhi, most of whom requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the U.S.-India relationship.
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Iftikhar Ali is a veteran Pakistani journalist, former president of UN Correspondents Association, and a recipient of the Pride of Performance civil award
