German Media: Trump Tried Calling Modi 4 Times, PM Did Not Respond Amid Trade Tensions

Trump Tried Calling Modi 4 Times, PM Did Not Respond!

                German Media: Trump Called Modi 4 Times, No Response Amid Trade Row

Background and Source Verification

• According to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), one of Germany’s most respected newspapers, former U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to call Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi four times in recent weeks, but Modi did not answer any of those calls.
• This revelation was highlighted by Thorsten Benner, co-founder and director of the Global Public Policy Institute in Berlin, who shared the FAZ report on X (formerly Twitter):

“FAZ claims that Trump tried to call Modi four times in recent weeks but that Modi refused the calls.”

• Multiple Indian outlets have picked up the FAZ story, including India Today, Financial Express, The Telegraph India, and Odisha Bytes.

Political and Economic Context

• This comes amid escalating U.S.–India trade tensions, with the Trump administration recently hiking tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 50%.
• FAZ reported that Modi’s refusal to take Trump’s calls reflects both “anger and caution” in response to Trump’s unpredictable style.
• The German daily noted that Trump often used last-minute negotiations and social media announcements as bargaining tactics, and Modi may have sought to avoid being drawn into such “traps.”

Expert Opinions

• Thorsten Benner pointed out that Modi’s refusal is highly unusual in diplomatic relations and signals India’s unwillingness to play along with Trump’s approach.
• Mark Frazier, from the India-China Institute at The New School (U.S.), was quoted saying that America’s Indo-Pacific strategy of positioning India as a counterweight to China is collapsing, since India never fully embraced the idea of being used as Washington’s shield against Beijing.

Wider Implications

• The episode highlights the growing rift between India and the U.S. during Trump’s second term, particularly on trade and strategic alignment.
• By not answering Trump’s repeated calls, Modi appears to be signaling a tougher stance, prioritizing India’s independent foreign policy over U.S. pressure.

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🔗 Reference Links for Authentication:

• India Today – Modi refused Trump’s calls 4 times, says German newspaper FAZ
• Financial Express – Modi rejects Trump’s calls
• The Telegraph India – Trump called Modi four times but PM did not answer
• Odisha Bytes – PM Modi refused Trump’s calls