Trump Claims Peace Brokerage as India-US Trade Deal Nears Amid Pakistan Tensions and Operation Sindoor Ceasefire

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that a trade deal between India and the United States is nearing completion, while also warning that ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan could hinder progress. Trump's efforts to balance relations with both India and Pakistan, including positioning Islamabad as a trade partner, have sparked concern in New Delhi, raising questions about U.S. strategic priorities in South Asia.

The recent India-Pakistan clashes and the ceasefire following Operation Sindoor have further complicated the diplomatic landscape. Trump has claimed credit for brokering peace, a move viewed by some analysts as undermining India's strategic position and exposing the fragility of U.S. diplomacy in the region. Despite rising U.S.-India ties, Washington continues to maintain a strategic partnership with Pakistan, which has prompted debate about the rationale behind this policy. Experts suggest that Trump's diplomatic approach toward Pakistan may have underlying geoeconomic motives, but India has firmly rejected any attempts to equate the two countries. Trump has cautioned that continued hostilities between India and Pakistan could jeopardize potential agreements, stating he would not be interested in deals if the two nations remain at war. Observers note that Trump's intervention signals a renewed U.S. geostrategic interest in South Asia, a region whose importance was perceived to have diminished following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.