PM Modi avoided 4 phone calls from Trump in recent weeks, claims German newspaper

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A German newspaper report has claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not take as many as four phone calls from US President Donald Trump amid trade tariff tensions between the two countries.

The Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung, a leading newspaper in Germany, said that there are signs indicating that "PM Modi felt insulted", adding that his refusal to speak to Trump signals the "depth of his irritation and caution".

The report did not divulge the source of its report. Moneycontrol couldn't independently verify the claims.

It comes at a time when US has imposed steep 50% tariffs on India due to stalemate in trade talks and New Delhi's decision to purchase oil from Russia.

Recently, a report in Japan’s Nikkei Asia also claimed that PM Modi had avoided President Trump's phone calls, "heightening his frustration".

A US-based diplomat told The Times of India that it is not PM Modi's style to negotiate details over phone calls. The diplomat, however, did not confirm whether the German news report was true or not.

Earlier, external affairs minister S Jaishankar had confirmed that there was no call between PM Modi and Trump between April 22 and June 17.

According to the ministry of external affairs, the two leaders spoke for the first time since Operation Sindoor on June 17. The call took place after the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan was already in effect.

During the approximately 35-minute conversation, PM Modi briefed Trump about Operation Sindoor and India’s counterterrorism efforts, clarifying that India does not accept third-party mediation on security matters with Pakistan.

Over the past four months, Trump has repeatedly claimed that he averted a possible nuclear war between India and Pakistan by leveraging trade — often quoting arbitrary figures about how close the two nations were, how many jets were downed and how many wars he supposedly prevented.

India has repeatedly denied claims by Trump about US playing a role in mediating its ceasefire with Pakistan.