Did Trump’s Tariffs Stop India-Pakistan War? A Closer Look

President Donald Trump recently boasted that his administration’s use of tariffs successfully prevented a war between nuclear powers India and Pakistan. During remarks at the White House, he detailed how he threatened to halt trade deals unless the escalating tensions were resolved. Trump stated, “We stopped the war. We stopped a potential disaster, a nuclear disaster, because of trade.” He presented tariffs as a key component of national security and a strategy that has enriched the United States by hundreds of billions of dollars. The context for his remarks was the military standoff in May, which involved aerial skirmishes after India conducted precision strikes in response to a terrorist attack. While Trump champions his tariff policies as a potent geopolitical tool, India has consistently maintained that its disputes with Pakistan are bilateral issues and do not require international intervention. Trump’s narrative positions his economic policies as a direct contributor to global stability and American strength.