United States President Donald Trump has once again claimed credit for preventing an armed conflict between India and Pakistan in May by threatening to impose a 250 per cent tariff on both countries. Speaking in South Korea on Wednesday, the final stop of his Asia tour, Trump reiterated that his intervention stopped the two nuclear-armed neighbours from going to war after the Operation Sindoor ceasefire.

The US leader’s statement marks the latest in a series of assertions crediting his “tough trade diplomacy” for resolving global crises — a narrative he has often repeated during his second term.

Trump claims tariff threat stopped fighting

“If you look at India and Pakistan … they were going at it,” Trump said. “Seven planes were shot down. They were really starting to go.”

According to Trump, he personally spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistan’s leadership, warning them that the US would impose an impossible 250 per cent tariff on both nations unless hostilities ceased. “That was a nice way of saying ‘we don’t want to do business with you’,” he added.

He went on to claim that both sides initially rejected his advice. “They both said, ‘no, no, no, you should let us fight’. But after two days they said, ‘we understand’, and stopped fighting,” Trump told reporters.

Neither New Delhi nor Islamabad have responded to Trump’s latest remarks.

India dismisses earlier mediation claims

Trump’s version of events contrasts sharply with India’s official position. The Ministry of External Affairs has consistently stated that military operations were paused on May 10 following a direct request from Islamabad, not due to any American intervention.

In June, the government also clarified that no mediation offer or trade deal discussion was linked to the ceasefire, reaffirming India’s long-standing position that it does not accept third-party involvement in its disputes with Pakistan.

Tariffs and trade tensions

Trump’s remarks also come amid ongoing trade friction between India and the United States. Washington currently imposes a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods — half of which the White House describes as a “reciprocal levy” to correct what Trump calls an unequal trade balance, and the other half as a “penalty tax” for India’s continued purchase of discounted Russian crude oil.

The US President has repeatedly criticised such oil imports, claiming they help fund Russia’s war on Ukraine. However, New Delhi maintains that its energy policy is guided by national interest and that its transactions comply with global sanctions frameworks.

Prospects for a new trade deal

Despite the tension, both nations are negotiating a long-delayed bilateral trade agreement, which could potentially reduce tariffs to 15 per cent and expand trade to over $500 billion by 2030.

However, talks remain stalled over US demands for greater access to India’s agriculture and dairy markets, issues that have proved politically sensitive in India.

Trump nevertheless maintained that relations with Prime Minister Modi remain strong. “I’m doing a trade deal with India and have great respect and love for Prime Minister Narendra Modi — the nicest-looking guy, but tough as hell,” he said.