At the NATO Summit 2025 in The Hague, US President Donald Trump asserted that his most significant diplomatic accomplishment was preventing a potential nuclear clash between India and Pakistan—not through military force, but by applying trade pressure. Speaking at a press briefing, Trump claimed that the US had stepped in during what he described as a “very nasty” situation and used economic leverage to de-escalate rising tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations.
“I think the deal I’m most proud of is stopping a potential nuclear war between India and Pakistan—through trade, not bullets,” Trump said, adding that both countries were on the brink of violent confrontation. He credited economic diplomacy and warned both New Delhi and Islamabad that continued trade would not be possible if military conflict broke out.
Trump emphasized that under his leadership, the US managed the crisis with economic tools rather than warfare. “We said we can’t trade with nations threatening nuclear war. And they got the message,” he told reporters, noting that the situation is now stable.
However, India swiftly countered these claims, making it clear that no such trade threats had influenced its actions. According to Indian officials, the resolution followed military-level talks between India and Pakistan’s Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs), not outside intervention.
The conflict originated from a deadly terror attack on April 22 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region, which claimed 26 civilian lives. India responded with Operation Sindoor, a military strike targeting terror bases across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The situation de-escalated by May 10 after days of missile and drone exchanges.
Meanwhile, Trump’s remarks came during two press events, one of which featured Elon Musk. Reinforcing his point, Trump stated, “We stopped a war, possibly nuclear. We have the world’s strongest military—but we chose peace through trade.”
He also confirmed that Pakistani officials were scheduled to visit Washington in the coming week. Despite his praise for both nations’ leadership, India remains firm in asserting that the ceasefire was the result of direct military diplomacy, not international trade negotiations.
