In previous occasions, US President Donald Trump played nasty games ... with India and also likes of Israel and Iran.
But Narendra Modi held the bull by his horns.
Seeing that PM Narendra Modi has already made the first move online and tweeted about their Sept 16 tele chat ... on the eve of Modi's birthday, the US President was compelled to take a milder path.
Trump was later 'quick' but virtually forced to trumpet his long-awaited chat with the Prime Minister but he could not make any fake claims with conversation or figures !!
Addressing him directly with his first name Narendra, Trump posted, "Just had a wonderful phone call with my friend, Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I wished him a very Happy Birthday! He is doing a tremendous job. Narendra: Thank you for your support in ending the war between Russia and Ukraine!"
By tweeting first, Modi ensured that New Delhi's version of what transpired during the call landed first.
History has shown that Trump, known for his impulsive social media updates and habit of claiming credit, has often seized control with his trademark chest-thumping version.
Namo has 'learnt' from experience and learnt the art of dealing with the "eccentric President", says 'India Today' article.
Trump's habit of shooting off the cuff with little regard to accuracy is the stuff of folklore. Israel and Iran learnt it the hard way when Trump unilaterally declared a truce even as the two nations were trading missiles on June 24, the website pointed out.
India also got a taste of it in May, when Trump stumped New Delhi after announcing that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan through his mediation.
Biden and Modi - G20 Delhi Summit
Since then, Trump has gone on to repeat the claim on numerous occassions, even asserting that he used trade pressure to stop a potential nuclear war. He also dished out random numbers about the number of fighter jets shot down during the hostilities.
Matters came to a head during a June 17 phone call between the two leaders when Modi was in Canada for the G7 Summit.
During the call, the Prime Minister bluntly told Trump that the US had no role in brokering the ceasefire and at no point during Operation Sindoor, was trade discussed with Washington.
The Prime Minister also declined Trump's invite for a stop-over visit to Washington on his way back from the G7 Summit.
It is rare for a leader to reject such an offer from the President of the US.
However, what hit a nerve with Trump was PM Modi's refusal to engage in his push for a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
Since then, ties have been on a free fall, with the US going on to impose an unprecedented 50% tariff on India and suspending trade deal talks.
Such was the bitterness that PM Modi refused to take Trump's calls four times in the past three months, according to reports in NYT and in German media. The subject was to finalise a partial trade deal.
This time, India was cautious. A senior official told the NYT that the government was well aware of how Trump, prone to hyperbole, might misrepresent the outcome of the talks with Modi.
India played the waiting game and teased the US by cosying up to China and Russia. However, never did Modi attack the US or name Trump.
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