Says Trade Threats Ended Armed Conflict Between India and Pakistan, Cites Role in Global Peacekeeping
US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that his administration played a key role in brokering peace between India and Pakistan—this time crediting trade tariffs as the reason for the ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed nations.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump asserted that without his use of tariffs, the world would be witnessing at least four active wars, including one between India and Pakistan.
Key Highlights
- Trump says tariffs made the US a global peacekeeper.
- Claims his warning helped prevent a nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan.
- Says US earned “hundreds of billions of dollars” from tariffs while maintaining peace.
- Repeatedly claims he brokered a ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad.
- Pakistan later nominated Trump for a 2026 Nobel Peace Prize over his role in the truce.
Trump’s Statement on Tariffs and Global Conflict
“If I didn’t have the power of tariffs, you would have at least four of the seven wars raging,” Trump said.
“India and Pakistan were ready to go at it. Seven planes were shot down… I don’t want to say exactly what I said, but it was very effective.”
Trump also described a conversation he allegedly had with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which he threatened to block a trade deal unless the two nations stepped back from the brink of war:
“I said, ‘Call me back tomorrow, but we’re not going to do any deals with you, or we’re going to put tariffs on you that are so high, your head’s going to spin.’”
According to Trump, India and Pakistan reached a ceasefire within five hours of that exchange.
#WATCH | On whether he would shift his position on tariffs, US President Donald J Trump says, "… If I didn't have the power of tariffs, you would have at least four of the seven wars raging… If you look at India and Pakistan, they were ready to go at it. Seven planes were… pic.twitter.com/oI3r4cnzAV
— ANI (@ANI) October 6, 2025
Timeline of Trump’s Ceasefire Claims
- May 2025: Trump posted on social media about a ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan after a “long night” of US-brokered talks.
- August 2025: Reiterated claim of threatening India with high tariffs to push for de-escalation.
- October 2025: Trump again cited tariffs as a major reason for the US being a global “peacekeeper.”
India and Pakistan’s Response
- India denied any direct US intervention, stating the ceasefire followed bilateral talks between military officials.
- Pakistan, after initially disputing Trump’s role, later acknowledged it and even nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize for his “decisive diplomatic intervention.”
Broader Implications
Trump’s comments revive ongoing debates about:
- The effectiveness and ethics of using trade threats in foreign policy.
- The credibility of unilateral claims in sensitive geopolitical matters.
- The role of the US as a mediator in South Asian conflicts.
