August 31, 2025

Hold your breath, because the India-US relationship saw a spicy twist! Prime Minister Narendra Modi firmly said 'no' to US President Donald Trump’s claim of brokering peace between India and Pakistan. Trump even hinted Modi was up for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination – but guess what? Modi refused to engage on that. This story boiled up during a 35-minute phone call on June 17. According to the New York Times, Trump proudly told Modi "how proud he was of ending the military escalation" and mentioned Pakistan planned to nominate Modi for the Nobel Peace Prize. He subtly expected Modi to do the same. Modi's reply? The peace had nothing to do with America and was settled directly between India and Pakistan. The Times says Trump didn't pay much attention and was disappointed by Modi's refusal to discuss the Nobel Prize. India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri later confirmed, "India has never accepted mediation, does not and will never do so." He stressed that trade deals or US mediation were never discussed. Right after this, trade talks hit a wall and things got chilly. The US dropped surprise tariffs totaling 50% on Indian products like textiles, gems, shrimp, and leather – a tough blow to major Indian industries. This heavy tariff pressure sent a clear message: the Modi-Trump friendship had seen better days. Before this phone call drama, things were already tense. In May, India launched 'Operation Sindoor' targeting terrorists in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir after a terror attack killed 26 people. The fighting lasted four intense days before both sides agreed to stop. Trump quickly claimed he "solved" the conflict, but Indian leaders rejected this, saying the ceasefire was a direct India-Pakistan deal, not a US-brokered one. Adding fuel to the fire, Trump cancelled a planned face-to-face meeting with Modi at the G7 summit and tried to invite Modi to Washington, who declined due to other commitments. Indian officials worried Trump might try to create awkward photo-ops with Pakistan’s army chief, showing he misunderstood the delicate nature of India-Pakistan issues. Trade relations further soured when Trump slapped those hefty tariffs, and Indian officials called this move “unfair and unjustified.” They urged businesses to stay strong despite the tough times. The US also tightened visa rules for Indian students and workers, which Indian officials described as “gundagardi” or bullying. Even the Quad summit was spared from Trump’s presence, as he “no longer has plans” to visit India this year, signaling how strained the relationship has become. Modi is now looking to strengthen ties with China and Russia amid this cold snap. In short, the Modi-Trump saga turned from warm friendship to frosty stand-off, all triggered by a Nobel Peace Prize talk and heavy tariffs. The two leaders haven’t chatted since June 17. Will the heat return? Only time will tell!

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Tags: Modi-trump relations, India-us trade tariffs, India-pakistan conflict, Nobel peace prize, Us-india trade talks, Trump tariffs,