India maintains ceasefire was brokered by its own military talks, not by US intervention, as trade tensions with Washington escalate.
Key Points
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claims Donald Trump “directly” helped stop an India–Pakistan conflict.
- India rejects any US mediation, crediting its military-to-military dialogue.
- Tensions rise after Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Indian goods.
- Analyst suggests US pressure may stem from India refusing to let Trump take credit.
US Says Trump Helped End India–Pakistan Conflict
In an interview with EWTN’s The World Over on Thursday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said:
“When India and Pakistan went to war, we got involved directly, and the president was able to deliver on that peace.”
Rubio described Trump as the “president of peace”, citing examples of conflicts the US claims to have helped resolve, including Cambodia–Thailand, Azerbaijan–Armenia, and the DRC–Rwanda peace agreement. He also said the US is now focusing on Ukraine–Russia.
India Firmly Rejects Trump’s Peace Claims
Since May 10, Trump has claimed he convinced India and Pakistan to end hostilities by promising trade benefits.
However, India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament:
“It is completely incorrect and baseless to say that military action was stopped because of pressure.”
Singh said the operation ended after achieving its objectives and following a request from Pakistan’s military leadership for relief.
Analyst Links Trade Tariffs to Ceasefire Dispute
South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman told ANI that Trump may have targeted India with steep tariffs because New Delhi refused to credit him for the ceasefire.
Trump recently raised tariffs on Indian goods by an additional 25 percentage points, bringing the total to 50%, citing India’s Russian oil imports.
India Calls US Tariffs ‘Unjustified’
New Delhi insists it buys Russian oil for energy security and has called the tariff hike “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”. The Ministry of External Affairs also noted that other nations, including China, engage in similar trade without facing such penalties.
Ceasefire Claims Add Fuel to Trade Fire
The clash over who brokered peace between India and Pakistan has now intertwined with a deepening US–India trade dispute. While Washington insists President Trump played a decisive role, New Delhi remains adamant that the ceasefire was purely the result of military-to-military dialogue.
With tariffs at a historic high and both nations unwilling to concede ground, this diplomatic standoff shows no signs of easing — and could shape the future of US–India relations for years to come.
Also Read : Donald Trump Halts Trade Talks With India Amid Soaring 50% Tariff Dispute
