US President Donald Trump has reportedly decided not to attend the upcoming Quad Summit in India later this year, according to The New York Times. The article sheds light on the deteriorating relationship between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revealing how tensions have escalated over recent months.
The New York Times, in its report titled “The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unraveled,” quoted sources familiar with Trump’s schedule, stating, “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.”
However, neither US nor Indian officials have officially confirmed the details of this development.
India is set to host the leaders of the US, Australia, and Japan for the Quad Summit in New Delhi around November. Earlier this year, the Trump administration hosted the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in January, right after Trump’s second inauguration.
The NYT piece suggests that the deterioration of relations between the two leaders was fueled by several factors, particularly trade disputes and Trump’s controversial claims of resolving the May conflict between India and Pakistan—a claim that India strongly denied.
The article mentions, “President Trump’s repeated claims about having ‘solved’ the India-Pakistan war infuriated Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India. And that was only the beginning,” further suggesting that Modi’s patience with Trump had begun to wane.
The leaders were scheduled to meet during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, but Trump returned to Washington early. Before leaving, Modi spoke with Trump over the phone to clarify India’s position on the matter, especially after Operation Sindoor.
According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Modi emphasized that there was no discussion about a US-India trade deal or US mediation in the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, which had been settled directly between the two countries through military channels at Pakistan’s request.
Modi made it clear that India would not accept external mediation, and during the call, Trump allegedly suggested that Modi nominate him for a Nobel Prize, a proposal that reportedly irritated the Indian leader. Modi reiterated that the ceasefire was a result of direct talks between India and Pakistan, and the US had no role in it.
The Economic Times cited the NYT report, which stated that Trump largely disregarded Modi’s response, but this disagreement, combined with Modi’s reluctance to engage on the Nobel Prize matter, contributed significantly to the breakdown in their relationship. This marked a sharp shift in the once-strong rapport between the two leaders that had begun during Trump’s first term.
The White House did not comment on the June 17 call, and Trump did not mention it on social media, despite his frequent claims that he had played a role in resolving the conflict. The NYT described the episode as highlighting a US president focused on securing a Nobel Prize but clashing with India over the sensitive issue of Pakistan.
Furthermore, the report mentioned that Trump imposed additional 25 percent tariffs on India for its oil purchases from Russia. Trump reportedly made several attempts to discuss the tariffs with Modi, but the Indian leader did not respond, which further strained their bilateral relations.
