Former US President Donald Trump recently reiterated his claim that he played a pivotal role in preventing a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a White House cabinet meeting, Trump said he warned both countries of imposing extremely high tariffs that would jeopardize any trade deals unless they ceased hostilities. Trump emphasized that his stern warnings were aimed at stabilizing the tense relations following a terror attack in Pahalgam, which had escalated military responses from both sides.

Trump described his conversations with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as positive, calling Modi a very terrific man. He said he directly asked Modi about the ongoing tensions with Pakistan and also reached out to Pakistan with a similar message. According to Trump, the long-standing and deep-rooted hostilities—sometimes under various names for hundreds of years—were stepping dangerously close to nuclear war, something he claimed to have halted through his trade and tariff threats.

The US administration recently imposed a 50% tariff on Indian imports, partly as a penalty over India’s purchase of Russian oil, which is seen as indirectly financing Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. These tariffs have further strained the trade relations between the US and India, which India has described as unjustified and harmful to its economy. The tariff move came as Trump’s claims about his diplomatic interventions gained renewed attention, highlighting the complicated dynamics between strategic diplomacy and economic pressure.

While Trump has consistently credited himself with brokering peace during the May conflict, Indias official stance dismisses third-party involvement, attributing ceasefire agreements to direct military talks between India and Pakistan’s senior officers. Nonetheless, Trump insists that threatening trade consequences was key to both nations stepping back from the brink of war, stating that after his warnings the ceasefire was reached “within about five hours.”

This episode highlights the intersection of international diplomacy and economic leverage, where global leaders use trade policy as a tool to influence geopolitical conflicts. It also underlines the delicate balance in India-US relations, marked by cooperation and tension, especially as tariffs affect critical economic ties. Trump’s statements continue to provoke debate on the true impact of his diplomatic role in South Asia and the ongoing challenge of maintaining peace in the historically volatile India-Pakistan relationship.

Disclaimer: This Image is taken from The Statesman.