Donald Trump again claims he prevented India-Pakistan war, credits tariff power
Trump again claims credit for stopping India-Pakistan conflict, says tariffs helped maintain peace
Former US President Donald Trump on Monday once again claimed that his use of trade tariffs helped prevent wars, asserting that his intervention during the recent India-Pakistan conflict was “very effective.” Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said his tariff policies not only strengthened the US economy but also positioned the country as a “peacekeeper.”
“Tariffs are very important for the United States. We are a peacekeeper because of tariffs,” Trump said. “Not only do we make hundreds of billions of dollars, but we’re a peacekeeper because of tariffs.”
The former president went on to say that without his use of trade measures, multiple global conflicts would still be ongoing.
“If I didn’t have the power of tariffs, you’d have at least four of the seven wars still raging,” he claimed. “If you look at India and Pakistan, they were ready to go at it. Seven planes were shot down,” Trump said, reiterating that his diplomatic outreach helped de-escalate tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
“I don’t want to say exactly what I said, but it was very effective,” he added, crediting his “tariff power” for maintaining peace.
India rejects third-party claims
India, however, has consistently denied any third-party role in de-escalating hostilities with Pakistan.
The recent conflict began on May 7, when India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians.
After four days of cross-border drone and missile exchanges, both sides reached an understanding on May 10 to halt the fighting.
Indian officials maintain that the decision to cease hostilities came through direct communication between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of the two countries, without any external mediation.
