US President Donald Trump has reportedly canceled his planned visit to India for the Quad Summit scheduled in New Delhi around November 2025, according to a New York Times report citing sources familiar with his schedule. The decision marks a significant deterioration in relations between Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, once described as close allies, amid escalating trade disputes and diplomatic tensions.

The unraveling of the Trump-Modi relationship, detailed in the NYT article titled “The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unraveled,” stems from multiple flashpoints. A key issue was Trump’s repeated claims—made over 40 times since May 10, 2025—that he “solved” a four-day India-Pakistan conflict in May.

India firmly denied these assertions, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri clarifying that the ceasefire was negotiated directly between the two nations’ armed forces at Pakistan’s request, with no US mediation involved. During a June 17 phone call, Modi reiterated this stance, rejecting Trump’s suggestion of US involvement and his apparent expectation of a Nobel Peace Prize nomination from India, which Modi declined to entertain.

Trade tensions have further strained ties. The Trump administration imposed a 50% tariff on Indian exports, including an additional 25% for India’s purchase of Russian oil, a move perceived as punitive rather than a cohesive strategy to address trade deficits or Russia’s war in Ukraine. Richard Rossow, chair on India at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, noted that the targeting of India suggests motives beyond economic policy, as similar sanctions were not applied to other nations purchasing Russian hydrocarbons.

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The Quad Summit, a critical platform for India, the US, Japan, and Australia to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific, was expected to strengthen multilateral cooperation. However, Trump’s absence raises questions about the alliance’s future, especially as India navigates its strategic autonomy amid improving ties with China and Russia. Modi’s refusal to engage in further calls with Trump after the June 17 conversation underscores the depth of the rift.

Neither the US nor Indian governments have officially commented on the cancellation, leaving the diplomatic community and analysts to speculate on the implications for India-US relations and the Quad’s strategic objectives. As trade and geopolitical tensions persist, the once-celebrated partnership between the two leaders faces an uncertain future.

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