Former US President Donald Trump has said that the United States is close to finalizing a trade agreement with India. In remarks made on Monday, Trump highlighted past deals with the UK and China, stating that India could be next. However, he also warned several other countries of new tariffs, threatening further hikes if they retaliate.
“We’re close to making a deal with India,” Trump said, while explaining that countries unwilling to cooperate would face heavy import taxes.
The Trump administration has sent formal letters to multiple countries—such as Bangladesh, Japan, South Korea, Cambodia, Indonesia, and others—outlining the tariffs they would face on goods entering the US. These new duties, ranging from 25% to 40%, are set to take effect from August 1.
Claims of Preventing War Between India and Pakistan
Trump also claimed he prevented a major conflict between India and Pakistan, allegedly using trade pressure to de-escalate tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
“They were maybe at a nuclear stage,” Trump said. “We told them: if you’re going to fight, we’re not going to deal with you at all. And they stopped.”
He referred to efforts made in the past weeks involving India, Pakistan, Kosovo, Serbia, Rwanda, and the Congo. Trump has repeatedly said that he warned both India and Pakistan that the US would halt trade relations if they continued their military hostilities.
Context: Operation Sindoor and Ceasefire
Tensions between India and Pakistan flared up after the May 7 Operation Sindoor, launched by India in retaliation for a terror attack in Pahalgam. The military action targeted terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan-controlled territory. The situation escalated for four days until an understanding to cease hostilities was reached on May 10.
India has officially maintained that its strong military response forced Pakistan to back down and request a stop to the fighting, with no credit given to outside intervention.
Trump on Russia-Ukraine Conflict
Trump also weighed in on the ongoing war in Ukraine, blaming US President Joe Biden for what he called a “Biden-created monster.” He claimed the war would never have happened under his leadership and expressed his dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump was presented with a letter sent to the Nobel Peace Prize Committee, nominating him for his role in various peace efforts, including de-escalating the India-Pakistan conflict.
Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration over not receiving a Nobel Peace Prize for his claimed efforts in reducing global conflicts.
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