Donald Trump claims US tariffs prevented a full-scale war between India and Pakistan

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US President Donald Trump has reignited debate over his claim that his administration’s US tariffs played a key role in preventing a major conflict between India and Pakistan. Speaking from the White House, Trump said, “If I didn’t have the power of tariffs, you would have at least four of the seven wars raging. India and Pakistan were ready to go at it. Seven planes were shot down.”

Trump’s Economic Tool as Peace Strategy
 

According to Trump, the Trump tariffs on India were not just about trade but also about leveraging global stability. “Not only did we make hundreds of billions of dollars, but we’re a peacekeeper because of tariffs,” he said, suggesting that economic pressure brought the two nuclear-armed neighbors to the negotiation table. 

He hinted that private calls with both governments helped ease tensions after India launched Operation Sindoor to target terror camps in Pakistan.

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India’s Response to Trump’s Assertion
 

Despite Trump’s claims, Indian officials maintain that the India-Pakistan ceasefire earlier this year was a bilateral decision made without foreign mediation. The ceasefire, announced on May 10 after days of cross-border tensions, followed India’s retaliatory strikes against terror bases linked to the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. 

Indian sources insist that the de-escalation stemmed from diplomatic communication between New Delhi and Islamabad, not from outside influence.

Weighing Trump’s Global Peacekeeper Claim
 

Once again, Trump's comments have brought the issue of economic policies, particularly US tariffs, as an instrument for foreign relations. His statement alleging that Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir commended him for his peacekeeping role has caused protests worldwide, but the analysts remain largely skeptical. 

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For many, these statements by Trump unwittingly outline the attitude that sanctions are tools of economics and diplomacy. However, India's position shows that its sovereignty directed its decision rather than any sanctions.