Indian Prime Minister Contradicts Trump
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has contradicted U.S. President Donald Trump's account of mediating a ceasefire with Pakistan last month, according to an Indian statement released after a call between them.
India's foreign ministry said Trump and Modi held a 35-minute call and that the Indian premier had invited the U.S. president to visit the world's largest democracy and he had accepted the invitation.
Why It Matters
As India is the world's most populous nation and a rising industrial power, the relationship is a crucial one for the United States and ties between Trump and Modi are cordial. In particular, India serves as an important counterweight to China in Asia and beyond.
It is important for India that the decision to end its confrontation with Pakistan last month was something that originated with its neighbor and nuclear rival and not as the result of any external mediation between the two parties.
What To Know
A statement from India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said Trump and Modi held a call at the U.S. president's request after his early departure from the G7 meeting in Canada, which Modi also attended.
A central topic was India's Operation Sindoor attacks on targets in Pakistan, which were launched on May 7 after the April 22nd attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Kashmir. Pakistan rejected India's accusations of involvement in the attack.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.
U.S. President Donald Trump (R) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrive for a joint press conference in the East Room at the White House on February 13, 2025 in Washington, DC.
Photo by"Prime Minister Modi told President Trump in clear terms that after April 22, India had conveyed its determination to take action against terrorism to the whole world... India's actions were very measured, precise, and non-escalatory. India had also made it clear that any act of aggression from Pakistan would be met with a stronger response."
The statement said U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance had alerted Modi on May 9th to intelligence suggesting Pakistan was planning "a major attack."
Trump took credit for India-Pakistan ceasefire
A ceasefire on May 10 ended the fighting after four days and at Trump has since taken credit for brokering peace.
In a post on Truth Social on Sunday he wrote: "Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal, just like I got India and Pakistan to make, in that case by using TRADE with the United States to bring reason, cohesion, and sanity into the talks with two excellent leaders who were able to quickly make a decision and STOP!"
But the foreign ministry statement said Modi had rejected any diplomatic role between India and Pakistan.
"Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on... any proposal for a mediation by the U.S. between India and Pakistan... Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that India does not and will never accept mediation. There is complete political consensus in India on this matter."
The statement said the ceasefire was negotiated directly through military channels at Pakistan's request.
The leaders appeared to found common ground on broader global issues. President Trump "listened carefully" and "expressed his support towards India's fight against terrorism." Modi emphasized India now views terrorism "as a war itself," noting Operation Sindoor "is still ongoing."
Modi invited Trump to the next summit of the Quad countries, which also include Japan and Australia, in an alliance that counters China in the Indo-Pacific region.
"President Trump accepted the invitation and said that he is looking forward to visiting India," Misri said in the statement.
What People Are Saying
U.S. President Donald Trump on May 12: "We stopped a nuclear conflict, I think it could have been a bad nuclear war, millions of people could have been killed, so I'm very proud of that."
Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri: "Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that India does not and will never accept mediation. There is complete political consensus in India on this matter."
What Happens Next
The disagreement over whether or not mediation took place is unlikely to shake one of the world's most important strategic relationships, which is taking on greater importance given the growing rivalry between the United States and China.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
34 minutes ago
- Washington Post
Stoney concedes to Hashmi in Va. Democratic lieutenant governor primary
RICHMOND — Virginia state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi's closest rival in the six-way race for Democratic lieutenant governor conceded Wednesday morning as Hashmi declared victory, but the Associated Press still found the race too close to call. Hashmi, an Indian immigrant who lives in Richmond, would become Virginia's first statewide officeholder who is Muslim or South Asian if elected in November. She would face Republican John Reid, who would be the state's first openly gay statewide elected official if he wins.
The Hill
34 minutes ago
- The Hill
Nippon Steel finalizes $15B takeover of US Steel after sealing national security agreement
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel said Wednesday they have finalized their 'historic partnership,' a year-and-a-half after the Japanese company first proposed its deal to buy the iconic American steelmaker for nearly $15 billion. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, delaying the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. It also forced Nippon Steel to expand the deal, including adding a so-called 'golden share' provision that gives the federal government a say in some matters. 'Together, Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel will be a world-leading steelmaker, with best-in-class technologies and manufacturing capabilities,' the companies said. The combined company will become the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, and bring what analysts say is Nippon Steel's top-notch technology to U.S. Steel's antiquated steelmaking processes. In exchange, Nippon Steel gets access to a robust U.S. steel market, strengthened in recent years by tariffs under President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, analysts say. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel did not list the full terms of the deal, and did not release a national security agreement struck with Trump's administration. But in a statement Wednesday, the companies said the federal government will have the right to appoint an independent director and 'consent rights' on specific matters. Those include reductions in Nippon Steel's capital commitments in the national security agreement, closing or idling of U.S. Steel's existing domestic facilities and changing U. S. Steel's name and headquarters. Nippon Steel announced in December 2023 that it planned to buy the steel producer for $14.9 billion in cash and debt, and committed to keep the U.S. Steel name and Pittsburgh headquarters. The United Steelworkers union, which represents some U.S. Steel employees, opposed the deal, and Biden and Trump both vowed from the campaign trail to block it. Biden used his authority to block Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel on his way out of the White House after a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. After he was elected, Trump changed course and expressed openness to working out an arrangement and ordered another review by the committee. That's when the idea of the 'golden share' emerged as a way to resolve national security concerns and protect American interests in domestic steel production. As it sought to win over American officials, Nippon Steel also made a series of bigger capital commitments in U.S. Steel facilities, tallying $11 billion through 2028, it said.
San Francisco Chronicle
35 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Nippon Steel finalizes $15B takeover of US Steel after sealing national security agreement
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel said Wednesday they have finalized their 'historic partnership,' a year-and-a-half after the Japanese company first proposed its deal to buy the iconic American steelmaker for nearly $15 billion. The pursuit by Nippon Steel for the Pittsburgh company was buffeted by national security concerns and presidential politics in a premier battleground state, delaying the transaction for more than a year after U.S. Steel shareholders approved it. It also forced Nippon Steel to expand the deal, including adding a so-called 'golden share' provision that gives the federal government a say in some matters. 'Together, Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel will be a world-leading steelmaker, with best-in-class technologies and manufacturing capabilities,' the companies said. The combined company will become the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, and bring what analysts say is Nippon Steel's top-notch technology to U.S. Steel's antiquated steelmaking processes. In exchange, Nippon Steel gets access to a robust U.S. steel market, strengthened in recent years by tariffs under President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, analysts say. Nippon Steel and U.S. Steel did not list the full terms of the deal, and did not release a national security agreement struck with Trump's administration. But in a statement Wednesday, the companies said the federal government will have the right to appoint an independent director and 'consent rights' on specific matters. Those include reductions in Nippon Steel's capital commitments in the national security agreement, closing or idling of U.S. Steel's existing domestic facilities and changing U. S. Steel's name and headquarters. Nippon Steel announced in December 2023 that it planned to buy the steel producer for $14.9 billion in cash and debt, and committed to keep the U.S. Steel name and Pittsburgh headquarters. The United Steelworkers union, which represents some U.S. Steel employees, opposed the deal, and Biden and Trump both vowed from the campaign trail to block it. Biden used his authority to block Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel on his way out of the White House after a review by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. After he was elected, Trump changed course and expressed openness to working out an arrangement and ordered another review by the committee. That's when the idea of the 'golden share' emerged as a way to resolve national security concerns and protect American interests in domestic steel production. As it sought to win over American officials, Nippon Steel also made a series of bigger capital commitments in U.S. Steel facilities, tallying $11 billion through 2028, it said.
