US President Donald Trump on Monday, May 12, claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, saying his administration helped bring an end to escalating hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
“On Saturday, my administration helped broker a full and immediate ceasefire, I think a permanent one, between India and Pakistan, ending a dangerous conflict of two nations with lots of nuclear weapons,” Trump said, speaking at the White House before his departure for the Middle East.
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The ceasefire, announced by India and Pakistan on Saturday afternoon, came after rising tensions in the region. While neither country directly mentioned US involvement at the time, Trump used the moment to highlight what he described as his administration’s unique approach to diplomacy.
“They were going at it hot and heavy, and it was seemingly not going to stop. And I’m very proud to let you know that the leadership of India and Pakistan was unwavering, powerful, but unwavering in both cases, having these — they really were, from the standpoint of having the strength and the wisdom and fortitude to fully know and to understand the gravity of the situation,” he said.
India has yet to respond to Trump’s claims. In recent years, New Delhi has largely maintained that issues with Pakistan are bilateral and do not require third-party mediation — a position it has reiterated in previous disputes.
Trump also described how trade negotiations were used as leverage to push both countries towards de-escalation. “I said, ‘Come on, we’re going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let’s stop it. Let’s stop it. If you stop it, we’re doing trade. If you don’t stop it, we’re not going to do any trade’,” he told reporters.
“People have never really used trade the way I used it, that I can tell you,” he added. “And all of a sudden they said I think we’re going to stop.”
Though Washington has played a role in diffusing India-Pakistan tensions in the past, Trump’s statements have not been officially confirmed by either government involved.
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