Washington (Rajeev Sharma): US President Donald Trump has reignited discussion about his international diplomacy efforts, stating that he has successfully ended eight major global conflicts, including longstanding tensions between India and Pakistan.
While speaking to members of the press aboard Air Force One during a stopover en route to the Middle East, Trump portrayed himself as a key player in recent global peace initiatives, and hinted that further diplomatic involvement could be on the horizon.
“There’s reportedly a conflict heating up between Pakistan and Afghanistan right now,” Trump said. “I told them I’ll look into it when I return. That might be the ninth. I have a track record—this is what I do. I end wars.”
The former president emphasized that recent agreements in the Middle East, particularly involving Gaza, are just the latest in a string of conflicts he believes were resolved during his time in office and afterward.
According to Trump, his efforts extended well beyond U.S. borders, addressing disputes that, in some cases, had persisted for decades. He pointed specifically to the historic rivalry between India and Pakistan, claiming he played a decisive role in reducing hostilities.
“Conflicts that had been dragging on for 30, 40 years—wars that cost millions of lives—I was able to step in and end them quickly,” Trump told reporters. “We’re talking about massive, deep-rooted issues that were resolved within days of my involvement.”
Trump didn’t elaborate on the specific measures or negotiations he undertook regarding South Asia, but framed his efforts as having led to meaningful and lasting peace in various regions.
“It wasn’t about credit or awards. It was about saving lives,” he said. “And it’s been an incredible privilege to do that.”
His remarks come just days after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado for her democratic advocacy. Trump revealed that Machado had personally thanked him for his support during Venezuela’s political crisis.
“She called to say she accepted the prize in my honour,” Trump said. “She knew I had helped her and her people when they needed it most.”
Although the Nobel Committee has made no statement linking Trump to Machado’s award, the former president once again expressed disappointment over not receiving the prize himself, asserting that his contributions were significant enough to warrant recognition.
“People keep saying, ‘If you end the war in Ukraine, you’ll get the Nobel,’” he said. “But I’ve already helped stop seven others. That counts for something.”
Trump went on to name a series of conflicts where he claims to have had a hand in de-escalation: from Armenia-Azerbaijan and Kosovo-Serbia, to tensions involving Israel and Iran, Egypt and Ethiopia, and disputes in central Africa.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a separate statement, voiced support for Trump’s role in facilitating peace deals in the region, further fueling debate over the true scope and impact of Trump’s foreign policy legacy.
Whether these claims will boost Trump’s political standing ahead of the next election cycle remains to be seen. But for now, he continues to position himself as a statesman capable of halting global unrest—one negotiation at a time.
