Trump’s comments came in the context of escalating tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), which had seen heavy cross-border shelling and drone activity.
Published May 12, 2025 | 10:27 PM ⚊ Updated May 12, 2025 | 10:33 PM
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Synopsis: US President Donald Trump claimed his administration helped halt military action between India and Pakistan by using trade as leverage, crediting himself with averting a potential nuclear conflict. His remarks, made just before the Indian PM’s address, have stirred diplomatic controversy amid heightened tensions along the LoC, with Trump positioning the U.S. as a key mediator in the ceasefire.
In a provocative statement, reiterating America’s role in ending India-Pakistan conflict, US President Donald Trump on Monday, 12 May, claimed that his administration played a key role in halting military action by leveraging trade deals as incentives.
Speaking just minutes before the Indian Prime Minister was scheduled to address the nation, Trump declared that “trade is a big reason they stopped fighting,” referring to the recent ceasefire agreement between the South Asian rivals.
“We helped a lot. I said c’mon (SIC), we are going to do a lot of trade with you guys. Let’s stop it. If you stop it we do trade, if you don’t stop it we are not gonna do any trade. And all of a sudden they said ‘I think we are gonna stop’,” Trump said during a press conference.
Trump’s comments came in the context of escalating tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), which had seen heavy cross-border shelling and drone activity. “We stopped a nuclear conflict. I think it could have been a bad nuclear war — millions of people could have been killed. So I’m very proud of that,” Trump said at a press briefing in Washington. He further asserted that the United States was ready to assist both countries moving forward, positioning himself as a peacemaker who helped avert catastrophe.
Big statement by US President Donald Trump on India-Pakistan ceasefire!
“I told India and Pakistan if you don’t stop fighting will not do trade with you both.” pic.twitter.com/m8BUk4XlT2
— Geeta Mohan گیتا موہن गीता मोहन (@Geeta_Mohan) May 12, 2025
Despite his comments on three different occasions, including a comment on mediating Kashmir issue, the Indian government has neither addressed nor responded to Trump’s claims.
All public statements made by Indian representatives and officials consistently claim that decisions to stop military action was discussed with Pakistan directly. While Pakistan has officially acknowledged and thanked the US government for mediating the truce, India has remained non-committal with neither confirmation nor denial of Trump’s statements.
US President Trump’s press conference on Monday almost upstaged Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation, the first since Operation Sindoor. Even in his address, PM Modi made no mention of USA or President Trump.
While government has been attempting to counter Trump’s claims via indirect quotes attributed to anonymous “sources” via media platforms, there has been no official statement from the Indian government rejecting or accepting Trump’s claims.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
