US President Donald Trump stated that the United States is "very close" to finalizing a trade agreement with India. Emphasizing the significance of this development, Trump credited his administration for preventing a potential nuclear conflict between India and Pakistan through diplomatic efforts centered on trade.
Speaking at Joint Base Andrews, Trump remarked, "I think the deal I'm most proud of is that we're dealing with India and Pakistan, and we were able to stop potentially a nuclear war through trade instead of bullets." He added that the tensions had escalated dangerously between the two nuclear-armed nations but were defused through dialogue and trade negotiations.
Trump underscored that his administration warned both countries that trade relations would be halted if hostilities persisted. "We can't trade with people who are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons," he said, praising the willingness of Indian and Pakistani leaders to heed this message. Pakistani officials are expected to visit Washington soon as part of ongoing diplomatic discussions.
India, however, has stated that trade talks were not linked to resolving the recent military clashes with Pakistan. Indian officials affirmed that an understanding to cease hostilities was achieved through direct military-to-military talks.
Following a deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 that killed 26 civilians, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure across the border. The two countries engaged in a four-day period of drone and missile exchanges before agreeing on May 10 to de-escalate the conflict.
An Indian parliamentary delegation, led by Congress lawmaker Shashi Tharoor, is scheduled to visit Washington in early June to communicate India's stance against terrorism and Pakistan's alleged involvement in supporting terrorist activities.
Trump reiterated the importance of stable relations between India and Pakistan for the United States’ willingness to engage in trade deals. "I wouldn't have any interest in making a deal with either if they were going to be at war with each other," he asserted.
The President also expressed confidence in the U.S. military's capability to manage other global conflicts, stating, "We are stopping others from fighting also because ultimately, we can fight better than anybody. We have the greatest military in the world."
