From hugs to rush .. Why is Trump and Moody’s relationship not fine? | policy

Nobody expected that US President Donald Trump’s relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would turn into hugs and large crowds, into a public trauma, suffocating customs duties and accusations of “national humiliation”.

However, the last months revealed a deep crack in Washington and New Delhi’s relations, at a sensitive time in which commercial and geopolitical files are intertwined, in which competition with China and Russia is borrowed.

The New York Times reported – in a lengthy report written by Mujib Machal, Tyler Peter and April Das – that the spark of disagreement broke out in mid -June, when Trump called Moody, repeating his idea that he succeeded in stopping the 4 -day military conflict between India and Pakistan.

The newspaper increases that Trump went further when Modi reminded that Pakistan decided to nominate the Nobel Peace Prize, hinting that India should do the same. However, the Indian Prime Minister responded in contradiction to Trump’s desire, pointing out that the ceasefire took place via bilateral channels, without any American role.

Punishment or politics?

The newspaper continues that Modi refused to engage in talking about the Nobel Prize formed a turning point in the relationship between the two men, which was described as the document, which was clearly manifested in 2020 during his visit to the state of Gujarat amid huge human crowds.

The prolonged report shows that it was not weeks on the call until Trump was announced by announcing the imposition of customs duties by 25% on Indian imports, before adding another 25% due to the purchase of New Delhi Russian oil, to reach 50%.

The White House justified the move as part of Russia’s punishment and influence on the sources of financing its war, but observers considered it a punishment for India for not going in the American line. They pointed out that China, the largest buyer of Russian crude, has not been subjected to any similar procedure.

The American newspaper reported that India and Brazil – which is led by President Lula da Silva, who is publicly different with Trump – has become the only two countries facing 50% fees, while Pakistan came out with a much lower tariff of only 19%.

Immigration and student visas

The report continues that the tension was not limited to trade. New Delhi collided with a stream against migration within the political base of Trump. Although Indian officials expected to reach a common ground with the American right, they were surprised by the criticism of the H-1B work visas (H-1B) and most of them are Indians.

The tightening of restrictions on student visas – and the Indians represent a quarter of foreign students in the United States – a shock in New Delhi.

It was more sensitive with the deportation of hundreds of Indians, bound by restrictions on planes last February, which caused great embarrassment to Moody while preparing to visit Washington.

With the entry of the new drawings into implementation, and Trump’s advisers to criticize India – one of them describing the New Delhi commercial approach to “arrogant”, and the last of which he held the responsibility of the war in Ukraine, describing it as “Modi War” – seemed that the Indian Prime Minister chose the heart of the page.

Rejudiced mediation

The New York Times report that in May, with the intensification of fighting between India and Pakistan, the Trump administration tried to play the role of mediator. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the two sides agreed to “talks at a neutral site”, while Trump posted on the “Truth Social” platform to announce “an immediate and full ceasefire.”

The situation angered Indian officials, as any external mediation violates a firm belief in New Delhi diplomacy based on limiting the Kashmir file in only a bilateral framework. “Do you believe me or Trump?”

Later, with the continued trade negotiations – the newspaper continues – Trump tried to arrange a new communication with Modi for a “partial agreement”, but the Indian Prime Minister refused. Indian officials said they were afraid that Trump would publish whatever he wants to “Truth Social” without adhering to what was agreed upon.

While the White House denied that Trump tried to communicate with Modi more than once, Indian sources confirm that he had sent several requests that have not received a response.

The New York Times added that the White House tried to reduce tension by nominating Sergio Gore, a close associate of Trump, an ambassador to India, with his assignment to the mission of a “regional envoy”. But New Delhi saw the combination of “India and Pakistan” under the title of “regional” additional insult.

Moody heads east

She said that with the entry of the new drawings into implementation and the continuation of Trump’s advisers to criticize India – one of them describing the New Delhi commercial approach to “arrogant”, and the last of which he held the responsibility of the war in Ukraine, describing it as a “Moody’s War” – it seemed that the Indian Prime Minister chose the heart of the page.

In public, Modi talked about the slogan “self -sufficiency” and revived his campaign “Made in India”, adding his speech to the interior instead of betting on a trade agreement with Washington, according to the New York Times.

She adds that during his upcoming visit this week to China – the first in 7 years – Moody is expected to find a listening ears in Beijing and Moscow to enhance economic and political ties, in a scene that summarizes how the “real friend” that Trump was described, to a discount accused by New Delhi of “national humiliation”.