For several days, armed clashes and missile strikes between India and Pakistan had those countries on the brink of full-scale war. It wouldn’t be the first time, but now both nations have nuclear weapons. Initially, the Trump administration stayed out of the conflict, with Vice President JD Vance saying it was “fundamentally none of our business.”
Neutrality is the Trump administration’s default position, but as the risk of war increased, President Trump, Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio got involved to try to reduce tensions. It was Trump who announced a cease fire between the warring nations, on Truth social, saying it had been mediated by the US “after a long night of talks.” The parties credited the Trump administration for the truce:
Pakistan’s prime minister thanked Donald Trump for his “leadership and proactive role for peace in the region” after India and Pakistan agreed to a ceasefire.
“Pakistan appreciates the United States for facilitating this outcome, which we have accepted in the interest of regional peace and stability,” Shehbaz Sharif wrote on X.
“We also thank Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for their valuable contributions for peace in South Asia,” he added.
Of course, it was only a matter of hours before India was accusing Pakistan of violating the truce agreement. It will be a few days, at least, before it is clear whether the peace will actually hold. But in the meantime, there is no question that the Trump administration has played a constructive role. Liberals accuse Trump of being a risk to start World War III, but that is the opposite of the truth.
