Former U.S. President Donald Trump has once again claimed that his tariff policies helped him prevent a potential war between India and Pakistan. Speaking to reporters before departing for the Middle East on Sunday — where he said he would oversee the release of hostages from Gaza following an Israel-Hamas ceasefire — Trump asserted that tariffs gave Washington “diplomatic and negotiating strength.”
“Tariffs have given us diplomatic and negotiating strength. I settled a few wars just based on tariffs,” Trump said. “For example, between India and Pakistan. I said, If you guys want to fight a war and you have nuclear weapons, I am going to put big tariffs on you both, like 100 per cent, 150 per cent, and 200 per cent. I said I am putting tariffs. I had that thing settled in 24 hours.”
He added, “If I didn't have tariffs, you could have never settled that war.”
However, India has repeatedly denied claims that Trump or the U.S. played any role in brokering peace or a ceasefire between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Trump also commented on tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan, claiming he could resolve that conflict as well. “This would be my eighth war solved,” he said. “I hear there’s a war between Pakistan and Afghanistan — I’ll handle that when I get back. I’m good at solving wars.”
Reiterating his previous claims of mediating global disputes, Trump described his efforts as an “honour,” saying his actions had saved millions of lives.
“It's an honour to do it. I saved millions of lives,” he said. “In all fairness to the Nobel Committee, it was for 2024. This (Nobel Peace Prize) was picked for 2024. But there are those who say you could make an exception because a lot of things happened during 2025 that are done and complete and great. But I did not do this for the Nobel. I did this for saving lives.”
His remarks come just days after the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025 was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, dashing Trump’s hopes of receiving the honour.
