German daily Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported that U.S. President Donald Trump attempted to phone Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi four times in recent weeks but received no response. New Delhi has publicly denied that any such calls took place, according to the paper. The disclosure comes as relations between Washington and New Delhi deteriorate following Trump’s 25 percent tariff on Indian exports that took effect on 30 July. While the White House has extracted concessions from other trading partners, India has resisted, and no high-level dialogue has been announced. Strategists in New Delhi say the impasse is accelerating India’s search for alternative partners. Modi’s government has cautiously reopened economic channels with China and deepened engagement with Russia, moves analysts describe as hedging against what they see as Washington’s growing proximity to Beijing and Islamabad. The lack of direct contact between the two leaders could complicate efforts to resolve the tariff dispute ahead of a possible Trump–Xi summit later this year, leaving a key U.S. economic relationship in limbo.