Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly turned down a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in June over concerns that it might lead to an unexpected encounter with Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
According to a Bloomberg report, which outlines recent strains in U.S.-India relations, officials in New Delhi said Modi was wary that Trump could arrange or facilitate a meeting between him and the Pakistani Army Chief if both were at the White House at the same time.
The report comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between Washington and New Delhi. U.S. President Trump has repeatedly claimed he played a role in averting a nuclear war in the region — assertions that Indian diplomats have publicly disputed.
Matters came to a head during a June 17 phone call between Trump and Modi, following the U.S. president’s early departure from the G7 summit in Canada, which prevented an in-person meeting.
Relations further soured as Trump this week announced a 50% tariff on Indian exports to the United States. Earlier in the month, he criticised India’s economy as “dead,” slammed what he called “obnoxious” trade barriers, and accused New Delhi of showing little concern for Ukrainians killed in the war with Russia. Modi and Trump have not spoken since their June phone conversation.
