India-America Relations: 7 reasons due to which Trump spoiled relations with India

India-America Relations: Relations between US President Donald Trump and India are currently tense. However, this situation was not always like this. Warm relations were seen between India and America during Trump's first term. In 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump shared a stage at the 'Howdy Modi' rally of Indian immigrants in Texas. A few months later, in 2020, Trump was given a grand welcome during the 'Namaste Trump' program in Gujarat. But in his second term, the relations between the two countries soured. Let us know, for what reasons the tension between India and Trump increased.

1. Insistence on taking credit for the ceasefire

According to a New York Times report, while returning from the G7 Summit on June 17, 2025, Trump spoke to PM Modi on the phone for 35 minutes. During this, Trump claimed that the credit for the ceasefire between India and Pakistan goes to him. However, PM Modi clarified that America had no role in this ceasefire. Despite this, Trump repeated this claim more than 40 times, which increased tension between the two leaders.

2. Displeasure over nomination for Nobel Prize

In the same phone call, Trump mentioned to PM Modi that Pakistan is going to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize. He hinted that India should also do the same. India rejected this suggestion, which angered Trump. It is worth noting that countries like Israel, Cambodia, Azerbaijan and Armenia have nominated Trump for the Nobel.

3. No meeting at G7 Summit

Trump attended the G7 Summit held in Canada on 16-17 June 2025 on the first day and left early. During this time, he and PM Modi could not meet. Trump suggested that Modi return to India via America, but Modi refused citing his visit to Croatia. According to a Bloomberg report, Modi feared that Trump might try to arrange a meeting between him and Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir, who was in Washington at the time.

4. Offer of mediation on Kashmir issue

In the same phone call, Trump offered mediation on the Kashmir issue, which India outrightly rejected. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri made it clear that India will not accept any third-party mediation on the Kashmir issue. Trump also claimed after the Indo-Pak ceasefire that he could help resolve the Kashmir issue, which India rejected.

5. Calling India a 'dead economy'

After this phone call, Trump started making sharp statements against India. He termed India a 'dead economy' and called Indian trade policies 'lousy'. After this, Trump announced a 50% tariff on Indian goods. According to Bloomberg, there has been no contact between the two leaders since this conversation in June 2025.

6. Tariff dispute on US farming products

The US has long been pressuring India to open markets for its agricultural and dairy products. India rejected US demands and prioritised the interests of domestic farmers. According to German newspaper FAZ, India cancelled the sixth round of negotiations (25-29 August 2025) on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US and prevented the US delegation from coming to Delhi. The fifth round of negotiations in July also failed due to disagreements over the import of US dairy products and GM crops.

7. Tariff on Russian oil purchases

The US imposed a 50% tariff on India from 27 August 2025, with 25% tariff as a penalty. The reason for this was India's purchase of oil from Russia, which the US considers to be support to Russia's war efforts. India continued to buy oil from Russia, calling it an issue of national interest. The US wants European countries to also impose tariffs on India, but the European Union has remained silent on this.