Trump Repeats Claim of Averting Nuclear Conflict Through Tariffs
US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that his administration prevented a full-scale nuclear war between India and Pakistan by threatening both nations with severe economic sanctions. In an interview with CNBC's Joe Kernen, Trump claimed that his tariff policies were instrumental in halting multiple global conflicts, including the 2024 confrontation between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Eight Wars Stopped, Trump Says
During the interview, Trump stated: "I stopped eight wars because of tariffs - India, Pakistan. I mean, I did so many - I stopped eight wars. Everybody acknowledges it. And five of the eight were stopped because of tariffs." He elaborated that he had issued ultimatums to both New Delhi and Islamabad, threatening a 200 per cent tariff on each country if they continued hostilities.
Trump claimed that at the height of the crisis, 11 planes were shot down and the two nations were on the brink of a catastrophic war. "They were going to war, and they are nuclear nations - strong nuclear nations," he added.
Pakistan PM's Alleged Praise
Trump further asserted that Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had personally thanked him for intervening. "And the Prime Minister of Pakistan said President Trump saved at least 30 million lives by stopping this war," Trump claimed.
Legal and Diplomatic Context
Trump's remarks come after the US Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on February 20 that his administration had exceeded its legal authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 to impose broad-based import tariffs. The ruling marked a significant pushback against his trade policies.
The India-Pakistan confrontation traced back to the April 2024 Pahalgam terror attack, which killed 26 people. India retaliated with precision strikes on Pakistan's cross-border terrorist infrastructure under 'Operation Sindoor'. Despite Trump's claims of credit for de-escalation, New Delhi has consistently denied any American mediation. India maintains that the ceasefire was achieved solely through bilateral channels between the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs), reiterating its long-standing position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are strictly bilateral, with no third-party involvement.
