Trump again claims he ‘settled eight wars,’ credits trade and tariffs

Trump again claims he ‘settled eight wars,’ credits trade and tariffs

US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that he “settled eight wars,” arguing that his use of trade and tariffs forced warring nations to agree to ceasefires, a claim analysts and foreign governments say lacks credibility and long-term impact.

Trump told reporters at the White House that several conflicts were resolved “because of trade and because of tariffs,” emphasising what he sees as the power of economic pressure in foreign policy. He did not specify which eight wars he was referring to.

VIDEO | Washington: US President Donald Trump (@POTUS) says, "I settled eight wars and numerous of them was because of trade and because of tariffs."#USNews#USTariffs (Source: Third Party) (Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/q7EKhAXhKV

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) December 12, 2025

The comments echo Trump’s earlier assertions about multiple global disputes. However, experts say these deals have proven fragile. Arthur Boutellis, a foreign policy analyst at the International Peace Institute, noted that Trump’s style is “transactional, zero-sum and contractual,” making it ill-suited for sustainable conflict resolution.

Recent examples reinforce those concerns. Days after the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed the US-brokered “Washington Accords” on December 4, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi accused Kigali of violating the agreement by firing heavy weapons into Congolese territory. Meanwhile, a previous US-brokered truce between Thailand and Cambodia has also failed to hold, with tensions flaring again at their border.

Trump has also claimed he prevented a conflict between India and Pakistan by threatening both with 350% tariffs. According to him, he warned the nuclear-armed neighbours that he would end all trade unless they backed down.

India has firmly rejected Trump’s version of events. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated that New Delhi did not accept such pressure, saying he was present when US Vice President Vance informed Prime Minister Modi of an impending Pakistani assault on May 9. “The Prime Minister was impervious to what the Pakistanis were threatening to do,” Jaishankar said.

Trump also asserted that “we took out Iran’s nuclear sites,” a claim that has not been publicly corroborated, and insisted Tehran now wants a deal with Washington.

His remarks come ahead of a crucial Supreme Court ruling on whether he exceeded presidential authority by using emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose sweeping tariffs.

A coalition of companies and trade groups argues that Trump overreached, and a ruling against him could force the administration to return billions in collected duties. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned of the financial impact if the court overturns the tariff regime.

Trump insisted he has backup options for imposing tariffs, though he admitted none match the national-security strength of the mechanism currently under review.