Washington/New Delhi, August 30, 2025: U.S. President Donald Trump has dropped plans to travel to India later this year for the Quad Summit, according to a New York Times report detailing how ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi have soured in recent months.
The report, titled “The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unravelled”, cites officials familiar with Trump’s schedule. Neither Washington nor New Delhi has officially commented on the claim.
The NYT notes that relations began to fray after Trump repeatedly claimed credit for ending the May four-day conflict between India and Pakistan — assertions India flatly rejected. During a 35-minute phone call on June 17, Trump reportedly told Modi he was proud of brokering peace and hinted that India should nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize, as Pakistan allegedly planned to. Modi pushed back, insisting that the ceasefire was reached bilaterally with Pakistan, without U.S. mediation.
The episode, according to the report, played a major role in the cooling of ties between the two leaders, who had previously enjoyed close relations.
Tensions were further aggravated by Trump’s decision to slap a 25% tariff on India over its purchases of Russian oil. Analysts say the move appeared more like punishment for India’s defiance than a consistent effort to squeeze Moscow’s war financing.
“The fact that they have uniquely targeted India says this is about more than just Russia,” said Richard Rossow, Chair on India at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies.
According to the NYT, Modi also stopped responding to Trump’s repeated outreach attempts amid stalled trade negotiations.
India is still scheduled to host the Quad Summit later this year, but Trump’s absence could alter the dynamics of the grouping, which includes the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia.
