Former US President Donald Trump has credited his administration for averting a potential nuclear standoff between India and Pakistan, a maneuver he says was achieved through threats of withholding international commerce. At a NATO summit held in Hague, Trump vehemently echoed these claims during a press meeting on Wednesday, explaining that he had employed a strategic sequence of trade-related phone calls to successfully dissuade the two nuclear-endowed neighbours from a possible military clash at a volatile time in May 2025.
On this occasion, Trump communicated an unambiguous message, ‘If you’re ready to battle, you can effectively wave goodbye to any sort of trade deal with us.’ At the conclusion of the NATO conference in Netherlands, Trump offered insights into his strategic play, emphasizing that it was this singular move that stopped a nuclear war from ensuing. He went on to mention his relationship with key diplomatic players in the days before the crisis.
Highlighting his recent diplomatic manoeuvres, he recalled a meeting in his office with Pakistani general Asim Munir, who had visited him the week prior. He also acknowledged his relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, referring to him as ‘an esteemed associate’ and ‘a true gentleman.’ According to the narrative given by the former President, both the concerned countries had prioritized potential commercial alliances over militant action.
Trump invited the two countries to consider the bigger commercial picture, warning them, he wouldn’t proceed with trade discussions if they would further pursue conflict. He relayed that his proposition had been met with agreement, evident in their responses that they were interested in securing the trade deal. The comments are the latest public recollection from the President outlining his purported intervention amid the India-Pakistan tensions that sprung up earlier that year.
However, his interpretation of the events has not been devoid of challenges. His claims about the decisive role of US arbitration in achieving the ceasefire have been met with objections from Indian authorities. They have continuously rebutted his presumption that American intervention was pivotal in achieving the ceasefire between the nations in May 2025.
As per India’s clarification, the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan had indeed occurred on May 10, spurred by dialogues between the respective DGMOs. A spokesperson from India’s foreign ministry made it clear that senior executives from both New Delhi and Washington had maintained a consistent line of communication during the crisis. However, they steered clear of wholly accepting Trump’s narration of the events.
This clash was marked as the most significant military escalation between India and Pakistan in more than half a century. The standoff triggered rapid mobilization of forces along their contentious border. All the while, the US continued to maintain substantial economic ties with India, fostering a bilateral trade that rolls into billions annually.
India is recognized as one of the US’s primary trade allies in Asia, whereas Pakistan has displayed an increasing desire to fortify its economic connections with Washington in the past few years. For the fiscal year 2024-25, records show that the bilateral trade between the US and India amounted to a staggering USD 131.84 billion.
In the course of the press briefing, Trump also defended the US’s attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, claiming they were ‘extremely effective,’ seeming to refute a preliminary intelligence report indicating relatively restrained damage. He labeled the operation as ‘total annihilation,’ likening it to the nuclear events that led to the culmination of the Second World War.
He stated, with sheer confidence, that ‘No other global military force could have accomplished it,’ brushing off media reports that referred to the intelligence evaluation as a form of misrepresentation or ‘spin.’ These strikes were undertaken mere days before Israel and Iran reached a ceasefire agreement.
Contrary to a classified US intelligence report that suggested Iran’s nuclear program was only set back by a few months, the Israel Atomic Energy Commission made a contradicting claim. They contended that the US strikes had considerably slowed Iran’s progress towards nuclear weaponry, pushing it back by a substantial number of years.
Trump has often spotlighted his personal connections with international leaders as a critical tool in mitigating global disputes. However, his accounts of active involvement in foreign conflicts have at times been met with skepticism from diplomatic circles. Such scenarios encompass similar claims he made during his tenure, pertaining to averted wars with North Korea and conflicts in the Middle East.
The post Trump Claims Credit for Averting India-Pakistan Nuclear Standoff appeared first on Real News Now.
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