US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed pride in having halted eight wars worldwide, claiming that he also stopped a conflict from “restarting” between nuclear-armed neighbours, Pakistan and India.
Speaking at a joint press conference with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is visiting the US for the first time in seven years, at the Oval Office, Trump said: “I’ve stopped eight wars… I’ve actually stopped eight wars.”
Trump added that his administration had achieved a lot during his tenure, stating: “We stopped India and Pakistan. I could go through the list… I’m very proud. I stopped one that was almost ready to start again.”
He was likely referring to the May 2025 escalation between India and Pakistan, during which the US engaged diplomatically to help secure a ceasefire.
Responding to questions, Trump said both Pakistan and India are now “doing well.”
Turning to Russia, he remarked: “I’m a little surprised at Putin. It’s taken longer than I thought.”
Earlier this year, Pakistan and India were involved in their worst military confrontation in decades, triggered by a terrorist attack on tourists in IIOJK’s Pahalgam area, which India alleged was backed by Pakistan.
Islamabad denied any involvement and offered to participate in a neutral investigation into the incident, which killed 26 people.
During the clashes, Pakistan reportedly downed seven Indian fighter jets, including three Rafales, and dozens of drones.
After around 87 hours of hostilities, the conflict ended on May 10 with a US-brokered ceasefire agreement.
The US president, during a White House media briefing last month, had said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif credited him with preventing a catastrophic nuclear war with India that could have killed millions.
Trump asserted he had halted eight wars, including recent Gaza breakthroughs, and is pushing to end the Ukraine conflict.
Addressing reporters, Trump had recounted a meeting with Sharif. “The prime minister said to me, ‘Mr. President, you saved millions of lives. You stopped that India war from going nuclear,’” Trump added.
Trump also highlighted his broader diplomatic record. “Eight wars stopped in nine months—India-Pakistan, Israel-Iran, Rwanda-Congo, Ethiopia-Egypt, Armenia-Azerbaijan, and now Gaza. I’m working on Ukraine next,” he had said, touting his mediation of a Gaza deal that saw 20 Israeli hostages freed and 2,000 Palestinian detainees swapped.