According to a New York Times report, President Donald Trump has reportedly cancelled his planned visit to India for the Quad Summit, signaling a potential strain in relations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Citing individuals familiar with Trump's schedule, the NYT revealed that Trump "no longer has plans" to visit India for the summit, despite previously indicating his intention to attend. The summit, which India is scheduled to host later this year, includes leaders from Australia, Japan, and the United States.

The NYT report, titled "The Nobel Prize and a Testy Phone Call: How the Trump-Modi Relationship Unraveled," suggests a deterioration in the relationship between the two leaders in recent months. The article points to several factors contributing to the strained ties, including disagreements over the conflict between India and Pakistan, trade tensions, and differences in geopolitical perspectives.

One key point of contention appears to be Trump's repeated claims of resolving the conflict between India and Pakistan. The NYT noted that Trump has made these claims over 40 times since May 10. These assertions have reportedly infuriated Prime Minister Modi, who has maintained that the issue is a bilateral one, without the need for external mediation. According to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Prime Minister Modi conveyed to President Trump during a phone call on June 17 that there was no discussion at any level regarding a US-India trade deal or any proposal for mediation by the US between India and Pakistan. Misri emphasized that the cessation of military action was directly between India and Pakistan through existing channels, initiated at Pakistan's request.

The NYT also highlighted a particular phone call in June 2025 during which Trump claimed credit for ending hostilities between India and Pakistan and mentioned that Pakistan would nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. The report stated that Modi rejected Trump's claim, reminding him that the ceasefire was negotiated bilaterally without external mediation. The NYT suggests that Modi's refusal to endorse Trump's role or back his Nobel ambitions played a significant role in souring the relationship.

Adding to the strain, the United States has imposed tariffs on India, including an additional 25% duty on Russian oil purchases. The NYT described these penalties as "punishment for not falling in line" rather than an effort to reduce the trade deficit or cut off funding for Russia's war. Richard Rossow, chair on India at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, suggested that the tariffs specifically targeting India indicate that the issue is about more than just Russia. According to the NYT, Trump, frustrated by tariff negotiations, attempted to contact Prime Minister Modi multiple times, but Modi did not respond.

Amid these tensions, India-United States relations appear to be entering a strained phase. The Mint reported that once close allies, Prime Minister Modi and Donald Trump are now seemingly drifting apart as tariffs, immigration curbs, and the India-Pakistan conflict push New Delhi towards Beijing and Moscow.

The Quad summit serves as a strategic platform focusing on Indo-Pacific regional security and cooperation among the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. If the Trump administration signals a lack of interest in the Quad, it could potentially undermine the mechanism that facilitates collaboration on various issues, ultimately benefiting China, which views the Quad as a hostile alliance.

Neither the US nor India has officially commented on the NYT's report.