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U.S. President Donald Trump played a key role in brokering the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, warning both nations that trade with the United States would not be possible without de-escalation.
Speaking at a public event at the White House, Trump said, “Trade is a big reason why they stopped fighting.” He said that he directly told both sides, “We will do a lot of trade with you, but first stop all this. If you stop this, we will do trade, otherwise, there will be no trade.”
Trump emphasized that his approach – using trade incentives as diplomatic pressure – was central to convincing the two nuclear-armed rivals to halt their conflict.
“People have never used trade in the way I have,” he said, referring to his diplomatic strategy.
He acknowledged that achieving the ceasefire was a difficult task, describing how both India and Pakistan initially showed little willingness to back down. “It wasn’t easy to get them to the table,” Trump remarked. “Both sides were angry and firm in their positions, but we kept pressing for calm.”
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Trump warned that without intervention, the conflict had the potential to escalate into a dangerous nuclear war, threatening millions of lives. “It could have been catastrophic,” he said. “This wasn’t just about two countries fighting—it was a nuclear flashpoint.”
The president praised the leadership of both Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India and Pakistan’s Prime Minister, stating that both governments ultimately made the wise decision to step back from confrontation and avoid widespread destruction.
“They showed strength by choosing peace,” he said.
He highlighted the U.S. role in the diplomatic process, suggesting that the threat of halting future trade relations played a decisive role in changing the calculations of both governments. “The promise of economic opportunity was more powerful than threats of war,” Trump added.
While current U.S. officials have yet to publicly confirm Trump’s claims of direct involvement in the ceasefire negotiations, his statement has added new layers to the conversation around global diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation in South Asia.
