India Freezes US Arms Deal After Fiery Trump-Modi Call.

India Freezes US Arms Deal After Fiery Trump-Modi Call

A contentious phone call between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 17 has led to a marked downturn in bilateral ties, prompting India to pause a $3.6 billion arms deal and cancel a high-level defense visit to Washington.

According to Reuters, India has halted plans to purchase US made military equipment including advanced missiles and reconnaissance aircraft and scrapped Defense Minister Rajnath Singh’s scheduled trip to the United States.

The decision follows a sudden escalation in trade tensions, with Washington imposing steep new tariffs on Indian exports, citing concerns over India’s ongoing oil imports from Russia.

The June 17 phone call marked a turning point, described by diplomats as when “tensions came to a head.”

Modi reportedly pushed back against US criticism of India’s foreign policy, especially its neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict and strategic autonomy in defense deals.

While routine military cooperation and joint drills between the two countries continue, the freeze on major arms acquisitions signals a serious diplomatic chill.