Donald Trump has once again asserted that he played a crucial role in resolving conflicts worldwide, including the tensions between India and Pakistan, attributing his success to the use of trade leverage.
Trump's recent claims echo similar statements he has made since May 10, 2025, when he initially announced on social media that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "full and immediate" ceasefire following discussions mediated by Washington. He has consistently stated that his administration was instrumental in bringing the two nations to an agreement.
In a recent post on Truth Social, Trump rebuked radio host Charlamagne Tha God, asserting that the host was ignorant of Trump's accomplishments, such as "ending 5 Wars, including a 31-year bloodbath between Republic of the Congo and Rwanda, where Seven Million people have died, and there was no end in sight,” and also resolving the India-Pakistan conflict. He further claimed to have addressed Iran's nuclear capabilities, secured the border, and stimulated the economy.
Speaking to Newsmax, Trump stated that he had "settled a lot of wars" including conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, and between Congo and Rwanda, in addition to India and Pakistan. He elaborated that his strategy involved linking trade deals to peaceful resolutions, telling the involved parties that trade agreements would be contingent on them ceasing hostilities. According to Trump, this approach led to peaceful resolutions and averted further bloodshed, saving millions of lives, and that he had been settling about one war a month.
Trump also announced a 25% tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, along with a penalty for purchasing Russian crude oil and military equipment. The tariff for Pakistan was set at 19%, lower than the previous rate. However, he also mentioned sealing a trade deal with Pakistan, expressing Washington's intent to collaborate with Islamabad to develop the country's "massive oil reserves".
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has supported Trump's claims, advocating for him to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending several conflicts, including the one between India and Pakistan. Leavitt stated that Trump has brokered approximately one peace deal or ceasefire per month during his time in office and that Trump has ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia. She highlighted the use of economic leverage, particularly trade pressure, as a key strategy in achieving these breakthroughs.
However, these claims have faced scrutiny and contradiction. India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stated that there was no third-party intervention in bringing about a ceasefire with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and that halting military action was not linked to trade, contradicting Trump's assertions. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also stated that no leader of any country asked India to stop Operation Sindoor.
