US President Donald Trump reportedly "no longer has plans" to attend the Quad Summit scheduled in New Delhi this November, signalling a significant strain in ties with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to detailed reporting by The New York Times, the deterioration stemmed mainly from a June 17 phone call, where Trump asserted he had "solved" the four-day India-Pakistan conflict escalation in May and sought Modi's endorsement for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

Modi firmly rebuffed Trump's claims, emphasising the ceasefire had been directly negotiated between India and Pakistan without US mediation. This rebuff deeply frustrated Trump, who appeared eager to leverage his claims for international recognition, including the Nobel Prize.

The phone call became a turning point as Modi conveyed that India "does not and will never accept mediation" in the longstanding conflict with Pakistan.

This 'snub' over Trump's Nobel ambitions and ceasefire credit led to a cooling of their relationship, which had previously been warm. Subsequently, Trump's administration imposed additional punitive tariffs of up to 50% on Indian imports, including a 25% tariff on purchases of Russian oil, which many analysts consider a retaliatory measure rather than a policy purely aimed at trade deficit reduction or geopolitical strategy against Russia.

These tariffs severely impacted critical Indian export sectors like textiles, gems, jewellery, chemical products, and marine goods.

The fractured ties have also stalled trade talks and created broader diplomatic frictions, with India pivoting towards strengthening relations with China and Russia. Despite Trump's multiple attempts to reach out to Modi over these issues, the Indian leader reportedly did not respond, reflecting a low point in bilateral relations.

While India will host the Quad Summit with leaders from Australia, Japan, and the US, Trump is expected to skip this critical event, marking a symbolic and strategic distancing amid ongoing tensions.

The unravelling of the Trump-Modi relationship was shaped by Trump's insistence on credit for the India-Pakistan ceasefire, his push for Nobel Peace Prize backing from Modi, and punitive tariffs perceived as punitive.

Modi's refusal to endorse Trump’s claims or Nobel ambitions, combined with deteriorating trade negotiations, has culminated in Trump’s withdrawal from the upcoming Quad Summit visit and a wider diplomatic chill between the two nations.

Agencies