It is believed that PM Narendra Modi decided to address the Asean summit in Malaysia in virtual mode because he did not want a meeting with President Donald Trump prior to the trade deal being finalised. It is also true that he did not attend the signing ceremony of the Gaza peace accord in Egypt despite being invited by both the US and Egypt, and the UNGA session in New York in September this year to avoid exposing himself to Trump’s theatrics. In earlier years, regular meetings with US Presidents would be welcomed as relations were glowing. The change is because Trump is mercurial and unreliable.

His insistence on fake claims, inventing conversations and making off-the-cuff remarks b efore the me dia , embarrassing his hosts and guests alike, have made leaders avoid interacting with him unless essential. This is also the reason why India has thus far avoided announcing any date for the QUAD leaders’ summit. Trump’s unreliability in recent days has been displayed by his stopping trade negotiations and imposing additional 10 per cent tariffs on Canada over an advertisement and imposing sanctions on Russia’s largest oil producing companies, Lukoil and Ro sneft , while simultaneously seeking talks with President Vladimir Putin.

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No self-respecting nation, including Canada and Russia, will bend to such threats but will seek alternate means or allies. Hence, India invited Canadian PM, Mark Carney, to visit early next year, possibly to commence trade talks. Putin will be visiting New Delhi in December. In case of India, Trump’s repeated claims of having stopped Operation Sindoor and seeking the Nobel Peace Prize have been publicly rebuffed by New Delhi. In addition, he has slapped high tariffs and sanctions for procuring Russian........

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