Former U.S. President Donald Trump frequently used social media platforms to assert that India and Pakistan had consented to a “full and immediate” ceasefire. He repeatedly emphasized that he personally informed the two nuclear-armed South Asian rivals that the United States would pursue extensive trade relations with them, but only if they agreed to halt their conflict. During his official State Visit to the United Kingdom, Trump once again reiterated this claim, adding it to a list of seven major global disputes in which he alleged to have played a significant role.
At a joint press conference held alongside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers, the official countryside residence of the UK leader, Trump reflected on his interventions in world affairs. He revealed that one of his greatest personal disappointments was Russian President Vladimir Putin’s failure to meet his expectations in relation to the Ukraine crisis. However, Trump contrasted this with what he claimed was a successful outcome in South Asia, where, according to him, his use of trade incentives persuaded India and Pakistan to step back from confrontation.
Trump went on to refer to the issue of tariffs placed on India despite his assertion of maintaining a warm and friendly relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He justified his stance by linking it to India’s energy ties with Russia, particularly its purchase of Russian oil. While emphasizing that he remained personally close to Modi and had even spoken to him on the occasion of his birthday, Trump argued that sanctions were a necessary step in order to influence India’s trade behavior.
He further elaborated that of the seven global disputes in which he was involved, most had been considered impossible to resolve. According to him, the India-Pakistan conflict was particularly significant since it involved two nuclear powers. He insisted that his approach was strictly grounded in trade interests. Trump told reporters that he bluntly informed New Delhi and Islamabad that if they wanted to enjoy economic and trade benefits with the United States, they would first need to find a way to coexist peacefully. He described the situation at the time as extremely tense, with both nations “going at it hot and heavy.”
The background to Trump’s claim lies in the events following Operation Sindoor, which was India’s response to a Pakistan-backed terrorist assault in Pahalgam earlier in April. It was in the wake of this operation that Trump announced on social media that a ceasefire had been agreed upon between the two countries. Since then, he has repeatedly insisted that his intervention, framed in terms of trade incentives, was decisive in bringing about the cessation of hostilities.
However, India has firmly and consistently denied any role for external mediation. The Indian government has maintained that the ceasefire understanding was reached through direct communications between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both militaries, without outside interference. This rejection reflects India’s long-standing position against third-party involvement in its bilateral disputes with Pakistan.
Trump’s comments then shifted to energy-related issues and broader trade matters. He argued that the key to ending Russia’s war in Ukraine lay in global oil prices. He predicted that if the price of oil dropped significantly, Putin would have no choice but to withdraw from the conflict. He also voiced his frustration that European nations continued to purchase oil from Russia, while at the same time reiterating his closeness to India and explaining why sanctions had been imposed despite that relationship.
In this context, Trump also mentioned that China was paying substantial tariffs to the United States and suggested that he was prepared to use similar economic measures in other disputes. He stressed that any such intervention would depend on whether the countries involved were still funding Russia’s oil trade. According to him, maintaining low oil prices was a critical lever to force Russia into settlement.
On the Russia-Ukraine conflict itself, Trump expressed a cautious hope that some positive developments might emerge soon. Nonetheless, he underlined that the war did not have a direct impact on the United States in the same way it did on European nations, pointing out that America was separated from the region by an ocean. Despite this, he acknowledged the devastating human toll of the conflict, noting that millions had already lost their lives.
The joint press conference began with Prime Minister Keir Starmer voicing his strong optimism and confidence in the enduring partnership between the UK and the U.S. Trump echoed this sentiment, describing the newly concluded trade deal between the two nations as both “historic” and “very good.” He also praised Starmer personally, characterizing him as a “tough negotiator” who had managed to secure a beneficial arrangement.
When the discussion turned to the Middle East, particularly the Israel-Hamas conflict and the UK’s proposed recognition of a Palestinian state, Trump signaled his disagreement with Starmer. He insisted that the immediate priority should be the release of hostages taken during the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023. He acknowledged that this stance created one of the rare disagreements between him and the British Prime Minister, but made it clear that it was a matter of principle.
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