From ‘Namaste Trump’ to Rift: 5 Reasons Behind Modi-Trump Friendship Crack
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Until some time ago, the relations between India and America were setting a new example of friendship. Whether it was the 'Howdy Modi' rally in Texas for Prime Minister Narendra Modi or the grand 'Namaste Trump' event in Gujarat for President Donald Trump, the friendship of the two leaders was a topic of discussion all over the world. But in Trump's second term, this friendship has become very bitter. Trump is now calling India a 'dead economy' and has imposed a huge tariff of 50% on Indian goods. What happened that there was so much bitterness in the relations? Let us know about those 5 big reasons, which created a rift in the friendship of Modi-Trump.
1. Credit for ceasefire and desire for Nobel
According to the New York Times, while returning from the G7 summit on June 17, Trump spoke to PM Modi on the phone and gave himself the credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan. Despite PM Modi clarifying that the US had nothing to do with it, Trump stuck to his point. In the same call, Trump also hinted that Pakistan was going to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize and India should do the same. Trump became angry when India did not do so.
2. Refusal to meet at G7 and blunt talk on Kashmir
Modi and Trump could not meet at the G7 summit held in Canada. Later on phone, Trump invited PM Modi to go to India via America, but Modi refused citing his visit to Croatia. According to reports, Modi feared that Trump might try to arrange his meeting with Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir, who was in Washington at that time. In the same conversation, Modi also clearly refused any third party mediation on the Kashmir issue.
3. Start of trade war and the tag of 'dead economy'
After this phone call, the relations became bitter. Trump called India a 'dead economy' and called Indian trade policies 'lousy'. Soon after this, he announced a 50% tariff on Indian goods. There has been no conversation between the two leaders since June.
4. India's tough stand on American agricultural products
America had been pressuring India to open the market for its agricultural and dairy products for a long time, but India rejected the American demand, protecting the interests of domestic farmers. Due to this disagreement, the bilateral trade agreement talks scheduled for August were also canceled.
5. Conflict escalates over purchase of Russian oil
25% of the 50% tariff imposed by the US has been imposed only because India is buying oil from Russia. The US believes that this is helping Russia in the war. However, India has continued to buy oil from Russia, calling it a matter of national interest, which has angered the Trump administration even more.