Former U.S. President Donald Trump offered to mediate the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan following their ceasefire agreement. The statement marked his second attempt to maintain peace within hours, celebrating the descalation.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump framed the conflict as a millennia old issue while praising both nation’s leaders for showing “Strength, wisdom, and fortitude” to prevent a catastrophic loss of life.
His posts emphasized America’s role in helping settle the truce after days of cross border strikes, though notably avoided assigning blame to either party for the escalation. Trump’s interest in Kashmir mediation echoes his controversial 2019 offer to dissolve the dispute.
Although India firmly rejected the proposal then, it insisted on a joint resolution. His latest statement strategically couples peacemaking ambitions with economic incentives, promising expanded U.S. trade with both countries.
I am very proud of the strong and unwaveringly powerful leadership of India and Pakistan for having the strength, wisdom, and fortitude to fully know and understand that it was time to stop the current aggression that could have lead to to the death and destruction of so many,…
— Donald J. Trump Posts (@TrumpSocialPost) May 11, 2025
This dual approach appears to position him as both conflict mediator and economic partner ahead of potential political campaigns, while capitalizing on a rare foreign policy breakthrough in a region where U.S. influence often struggled.
The former president’s mediation offer comes despite India’s longstanding opposition to third party involvement in Kashmir matters. His characterization of the conflict as a “Thousand-year issue” also oversimplifies the dispute’s modern geopolitical dimensions.
Nevertheless, Trump’s vocal support of the ceasefire provides international legitimacy to the fragile agreement, even as substantive negotiations on Kashmir’s status remain unlikely in the immediate future.
His statements suggest an attempt to claim diplomatic credit while testing whether either nation might now entertain external mediation after their recent brush with full-scale conflict.