Terminate all agreements, as they are in conflict: Trump reiterates assertion regarding India-Pakistan dispute
Donald Trump asserted that he prevented a nuclear confrontation between India and Pakistan by threatening to nullify all commercial agreements if both parties didn't halt hostilities.
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has once again claimed that he played a pivotal role in diffusing what he termed an impending nuclear crisis between India and Pakistan through a threat to terminate trade links with both countries.
While addressing reporters at the White House, Trump mentioned that he instructed his senior aides to notify both New Delhi and Islamabad about a complete cessation of trade if they failed to end the conflict. "I asked Howard Lutnick to reach out to India and Pakistan, indicating that Trump is prepared to cancel all trade agreements if they continue their war. They reached out afterwards and then ceased their aggression," said the US leader.
Trump referenced hostilities that he asserted concluded on May 10 after four days of drone and missile confrontations along the India-Pakistan border. "That situation was potentially nuclear. We managed to handle it. We achieved significant progress. I’m not sure if there’s ever been a President who has done more," he stated. He also mentioned similar approaches in other contexts, saying, "Serbia and Kosovo were on the verge of conflict, and I told them, if they proceed, there would be no trade with the United States. That’s what occurred with India and Pakistan."
Describing how he managed the situation, Trump indicated that he instructed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to withdraw all trade agreements with both nations. He believed that this ultimatum compelled both parties to de-escalate. "They reached out again. What’s the next step? I told them, do you prefer to trade with the United States or engage in nuclear warfare? We won’t allow that. They both concurred. They have outstanding leaders," Trump remarked.
Trump additionally implied that fresh trade negotiations with India could boost market opportunities for American firms. "For larger nations like India, I believe we will come to an agreement that enables us to trade. Currently, it’s limited. We are aiming to eliminate all trade barriers, which is unimaginable," he noted.
He further mentioned that similar strategies are being discussed for China and other countries, asserting that the US has already amassed "hundreds of billions" from tariffs with "no inflation."
Nonetheless, India has repeatedly dismissed Trump’s assertions about mediating its disputes with Pakistan. New Delhi has maintained that the ceasefire understanding was reached through direct military discussions between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) from both nations.
In a recent conversation with Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India would "never accept" involvement from external parties and that the ceasefire was established after Pakistan sought discussions that took place directly between the two military forces.
