Trump Claims 200% Tariff Threat Ended India-Pakistan Conflict in May 2025, India Disagrees

Donald Trump claims his threat of 200% tariffs ended the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025. India says this is not true and they solved it themselves.
By Newsroom | World News, Politics |

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has again asserted that his threat of imposing 200% tariffs on both India and Pakistan was the decisive factor in de-escalating a military standoff between the two nations. Trump made these statements at the "Board of Peace" event, where he reiterated his belief that economic pressure was the key to achieving peace. He also mentioned that eleven jets were shot down during the conflict, though he did not specify which country's aircraft were involved. India has formally distanced itself from Trump's narrative, stating that the conflict was resolved through bilateral efforts.

Context of Claims and Conflict

The period in question refers to a significant military tension between India and Pakistan in May. Trump's claims about his intervention have been made on multiple occasions.

'Nothing like money': Trump claims 200% tariff threat stopped Indo-Pak war, raises downed jets tally to 11 - 1

  • May 2025 Standoff: Tensions flared in May following India's counterterror operation, Operation Sindoor. Pakistan reportedly intervened, defending militants accused of a deadly attack on tourists. This led to India's retaliatory air raids on Pakistani air bases and disruptions to their air defense systems.

  • Trump's Intervention Claims: Trump stated that he warned both nations of severe trade consequences, specifically threatening 200% tariffs if the fighting continued. He claimed that the prospect of significant financial loss deterred both countries from further conflict.

  • Nobel Prize Nomination: Notably, Pakistan's Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had previously nominated Trump for the Nobel Prize, acknowledging his purported role in peace efforts.

  • "Board of Peace" Event: Trump recently made these claims at the "Board of Peace" event, where Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was also present.

  • India's Stance: India has publicly stated its disagreement with Trump's account, maintaining that the conflict's resolution was a result of bilateral discussions.

Evidence of Trump's Statements

Multiple reports document Trump's assertions regarding his role in ending the India-Pakistan conflict through the threat of tariffs.

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  • Trump stated, "If you fight, I am going to put 200 per cent tariffs on each of your countries." He emphasized that the fear of losing money led them to reconsider fighting.

  • He also claimed that "11 jets were shot down, very expensive jets," adding that these were "nuclear nations." However, he did not specify which country lost the jets.

  • Trump described his approach as "Nothing like money," suggesting economic leverage was more effective than other methods.

  • He claimed to have spoken directly to leaders of both nations, stating, "I got him on phone and said…," implying a direct communication to halt hostilities.

  • Trump also noted that the conflict involved "seven jets were shot down," and mentioned that " $150 million planes were shot down."

Economic Leverage as a Peace Tool

Trump consistently framed his intervention through the lens of economic consequences, arguing that the threat of severe tariffs was sufficient to bring India and Pakistan to the negotiating table.

'Nothing like money': Trump claims 200% tariff threat stopped Indo-Pak war, raises downed jets tally to 11 - 2

  • Tariff Threat: The core of Trump's claim rests on his promise to impose 200% tariffs on both India and Pakistan if they did not cease hostilities.

  • Financial Deterrent: He believes that "When it came to losing a lot of money, they said, I guess we do not want to fight." This suggests that the economic stakes outweighed the military confrontation in the eyes of the leaders.

  • Trade Deal Linkage: Trump also indicated he linked trade deals to the resolution of the conflict, stating, "I said we are not going to do a trade deal unless they stop the war."

Discrepancies in Aircraft Losses

A point of contention in Trump's narrative is the number of aircraft reported as shot down during the conflict. His accounts vary, and specifics remain undisclosed.

  • Eleven Jets Claim: Trump has repeatedly mentioned that eleven jets were shot down.

  • Seven Jets Claim: In another statement, he referred to "Seven planes were shot down."

  • Financial Loss Mention: He also stated, "$150 million planes were shot down; seven, maybe more than that, they didn’t even report the real number."

  • Unspecified Ownership: Crucially, Trump has not clarified which country or countries lost these aircraft, leaving the detail open to interpretation.

India's Official Position

India has officially refuted Trump's claims, emphasizing that the resolution of the May conflict was achieved through their own diplomatic and military channels, not external intervention.

  • Bilateral Resolution: India insists that the conflict "was resolved bilaterally."

  • Distancing from Claims: India has "distanced itself from Trump’s claims of mediation" in easing tensions.

  • Context of Air Raids: India's retaliatory air raids during the conflict had reportedly inflicted "heavy damage on nearly a dozen Pakistani air bases" and disrupted their air defense systems.

Expert Analysis

  • "When examining claims of geopolitical influence, it's crucial to consider corroborating evidence from all involved parties. Statements made at public events, especially by political figures, often serve multiple purposes, including domestic political messaging," noted a foreign policy analyst who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of international relations.

  • "The effectiveness of economic sanctions or the threat thereof as a tool for conflict resolution is a complex subject. Historical instances show varying degrees of success, often contingent on the specific economic conditions of the nations involved and the broader geopolitical context," stated a trade economist.

Conclusion and Implications

Donald Trump's repeated assertion that his threat of 200% tariffs compelled India and Pakistan to end their military standoff in May remains a point of contention. While Trump highlights his economic leverage as the decisive factor and cites varying numbers of downed jets, India has officially stated that the conflict was resolved bilaterally. The lack of independent corroboration for Trump's claims and India's explicit rebuttal suggest a significant divergence in perspectives on the events. The varying figures provided for aircraft losses further underscore the need for verified data. The implications of these conflicting narratives involve the perception of U.S. influence in regional conflicts and the effectiveness of economic tools in de-escalation.

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  • Trump's Narrative: Focuses on direct, decisive intervention through economic threats.

  • India's Narrative: Emphasizes bilateral resolution and autonomy in conflict management.

  • Key Discrepancy: The role and impact of external pressure versus internal diplomatic efforts.

  • Next Steps: Further investigation would require examining declassified government documents, official statements from the time of the conflict, and detailed accounts from neutral observers or international bodies, if available.

Sources Used

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Donald Trump say about the India-Pakistan conflict in May 2025?
Donald Trump said that his threat to put 200% tariffs on both India and Pakistan stopped the fighting. He made these claims at the "Board of Peace" event.
Q: Did India agree with Donald Trump's claims?
No, India has officially said that the conflict was resolved through their own talks and efforts. They do not agree with Trump's story about his intervention.
Q: How did Trump say he stopped the conflict?
Trump said he warned both countries that he would put 200% tariffs on them if they continued to fight. He believes the fear of losing money made them stop fighting.
Q: Did Trump give a clear number for planes shot down?
No, Trump gave different numbers for how many jets were shot down. He said it was eleven jets at one time and seven jets at another, and did not say which country lost them.
Q: When did this India-Pakistan conflict happen?
The conflict happened in May 2025, following India's Operation Sindoor and Pakistan's response.
Q: Why does this matter?
This matters because it shows different views on how international conflicts are resolved. Trump believes economic threats work, while India says they solved it themselves through diplomacy.