Modi–Trump Spoke Eight Times in 2025, Says MEA

Official Statement

On January 9, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke on the phone eight times during 2025.

Jaiswal emphasized that the two leaders share a friendly relationship, consistently addressing each other with mutual respect in line with diplomatic norms.

Trade Deal Context

Jaiswal noted that India and the US have been close to a deal on several occasions since agreeing to negotiate in February 2025. He added that the leaders’ conversations covered different aspects of the wide-ranging partnership between the two nations.

Diplomatic Clarification

The comments come in response to remarks by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who suggested that a trade deal did not materialize because PM Modi did not call President Trump. Jaiswal’s statement underscores that regular communication did take place, countering the perception of a lack of engagement.

Outlook

The repeated high-level exchanges highlight the strategic importance of India–US relations, even as trade negotiations remain unresolved. The MEA’s clarification aims to reinforce the narrative of ongoing dialogue and partnership, despite external commentary suggesting otherwise.