India's Ministry of External Affairs has confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump maintained regular communication throughout 2025, speaking eight times during the year. This clarification comes amid claims by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding the stalled India-US trade deal negotiations.

MEA Confirms Regular Modi-Trump Communication

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the diplomatic communications during a media briefing on January 9, emphasizing the strong bilateral relationship between the two leaders.

"Prime Minister Modi and President Trump have a friendly relationship and have always addressed each other with mutual respect as per diplomatic norms," Jaiswal stated. The conversations covered different aspects of the comprehensive India-US partnership.

US Commerce Secretary's Trade Deal Claims

Lutnick provided detailed insights into the trade deal negotiations during an interview with the 'All-in Podcast' on Thursday, explaining the US approach to international trade agreements. He described Trump's negotiation strategy as resembling a "staircase" where the first country to complete negotiations receives the best terms.

According to Lutnick's account, India was given a three-Friday deadline to finalize the trade agreement:

• India was initially positioned to secure favorable terms after the UK deal
• The US set a three-Friday deadline for completion
• India was reportedly "uncomfortable" with having Modi call Trump directly
• After the deadline passed, the US proceeded with other countries

"We told India, 'you have three Fridays'. Well, they have to get it done," Lutnick explained. He noted that while he negotiates the contracts and sets up deals, Trump serves as "the closer" who finalizes agreements.

Impact on Trade Deal Timeline

Following India's missed deadline, the US announced trade deals with Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam. Lutnick indicated these subsequent agreements were negotiated at higher rates, affecting India's position in future negotiations.

"India just was on the wrong side of the seesaw, and it was just they couldn't get it done," Lutnick remarked, describing the timing challenges that affected the negotiations.

Current Status and Future Prospects

Despite the setbacks described by Lutnick, India maintains its commitment to securing a mutually beneficial trade agreement. The MEA spokesperson emphasized the country's continued interest in concluding negotiations.

"We remain interested in a mutually beneficial trade deal between two complementary economies and look forward to concluding it," Jaiswal stated. The bilateral trade pact discussions have progressed through six rounds of negotiations, including framework discussions to resolve the 50% tariffs on Indian goods entering the US market.

Lutnick acknowledged the complexity of international trade agreements, noting that each country faces "deep internal politics" and parliamentary approval processes that can complicate negotiations. He expressed confidence that "India will work it out" despite the current challenges in the negotiation timeline.

India's Ministry of External Affairs has categorically rejected US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's recent characterisation of trade discussions between India and the United States, terming his portrayal as "not accurate" during a press briefing on Friday.

MEA Response to Lutnick's Claims

The strong response from India's foreign ministry came after Lutnick publicly blamed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the delay in finalising the India-US trade deal. The US Commerce Secretary had claimed that Modi had "failed" to call US President Donald Trump, suggesting this was a factor in the stalled negotiations.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed these remarks directly, stating that the ministry has noted Lutnick's recent comments but disagreed with his assessment. "The characterisation of these discussions in the reported remarks is not accurate," Jaiswal emphasised during the briefing.

Trade Deal Progress and Communications

Contrary to Lutnick's assertions, Jaiswal revealed that India and the United States were close to reaching a trade agreement on "several occasions" during the previous year. This contradicts the narrative that lack of communication or engagement from India's side was responsible for the delays.

The MEA spokesperson also provided specific details about the frequency of high-level communications between the two leaders:

Diplomatic Implications

The public disagreement between the two sides highlights the complexities involved in finalising the comprehensive trade agreement between the world's largest democracies. While both nations have expressed interest in strengthening economic ties, the characterisation of negotiations and the reasons for delays appear to be points of contention.

The MEA's measured but firm response indicates India's commitment to setting the record straight on diplomatic engagements while maintaining the overall framework of India-US relations. The clarification on the frequency of Modi-Trump communications directly challenges Lutnick's narrative about insufficient engagement from India's leadership.

This development remains a continuing story as both nations work toward finalising their trade relationship amid differing public narratives about the negotiation process.