Politics

Did Trump End Wars? Decoding Claims of Peace Deals and the Reality of Conflicts

August 20, 2025, 11:45 AM

HAJJAH, YEMEN – January 27, 2021 Destruction of more than five thousand mines and explosive devices remnants of war in the Hajjah Governorate on the border with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. By Shutterstock.com / Mohammed al-wafi.

Executive Summary

President Trump claims to have ended six or seven wars and is being championed by his administration as a “peacemaker-in-chief,” with calls for him to receive a Nobel Peace Prize.

The article examines several conflicts where Trump asserted his peacemaking role, including Israel-Iran, Pakistan-India, Rwanda-DRC, Thailand-Cambodia, and Armenia-Azerbaijan, with varying degrees of direct US involvement and recognition.

Despite Trump’s claims, many of the “resolutions” were short-lived ceasefires, not formal peace deals, or involved situations that were not active wars, with some parties disputing the extent of US mediation or the permanence of peace.

The Story So Far

President Trump has actively sought to position himself as a global “peacemaker-in-chief,” claiming to have ended multiple wars and seeking a Nobel Peace Prize, often leveraging US economic influence or diplomatic mediation to achieve these outcomes. However, the conflicts he cites frequently involved short-lived hostilities, pre-existing tensions without active warfare, or de facto ceasefires rather than formally recognized and lasting peace agreements, with the extent of direct US involvement sometimes disputed by other nations.

Why This Matters

President Trump’s claims of having ended multiple wars, while championed by his administration, often refer to very brief conflicts or de-escalations, with many of the purported “peace deals” proving fragile, immediately violated, or not fully recognized by all parties, indicating a nuanced and often short-lived impact on global stability, and the extent of direct US mediation is frequently disputed by other nations involved.

Who Thinks What?

President Donald Trump and his administration assert that he has ended six or seven wars and deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for his role as “peacemaker-in-chief.”

Leaders from Pakistan, Armenia, and Azerbaijan have publicly credited Trump for his mediation efforts and suggested he receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Conversely, nations like India, Iran, and Ethiopia, along with analysts such as Michael O’Hanlon and Professor MacMillan, indicate that some conflicts were brief, not formal wars, or that peace deals are not fully established or have been violated.

President Donald Trump has claimed to have ended six, and later seven, wars since starting his second term, amidst his efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking at the White House on August 18, he stated he made these deals “without even the mention of the word ‘ceasefire’,” despite later using the term on his Truth Social platform. His administration has suggested he is “well past time” for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role as “peacemaker-in-chief,” listing several conflicts he purportedly resolved, though some lasted only days and the longevity of peace deals remains uncertain.

Israel and Iran

A 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran began on June 13 following Israeli strikes on targets in Iran. President Trump confirmed prior notification from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites were widely seen as contributing to a swift resolution. On June 23, Trump posted that both nations would begin a “CEASEFIRE” leading to an “Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR.” However, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei later claimed a “decisive victory” without mentioning a ceasefire, and Israel has indicated it may strike Iran again. Michael O’Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, notes this is “more of a de facto ceasefire than an end to war,” but credits Trump for the strategic significance of weakening Iran with US assistance.

Pakistan and India

Long-standing tensions between India and Pakistan escalated into hostilities in May following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. After four days of strikes, President Trump announced a “FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE,” attributing it to “a long night of talks mediated by the United States.” Pakistan publicly thanked Trump and recommended him for the Nobel Peace Prize. However, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that cessation talks were held directly between India and Pakistan through existing military channels, playing down US involvement.

Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo

Hostilities between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo flared after the M23 rebel group seized mineral-rich territory in eastern DR Congo earlier this year. In June, the two nations signed a peace agreement in Washington, which President Trump linked to increased trade with the US. The agreement called for “respect for the ceasefire” agreed in August 2024. Since the deal, both sides have accused each other of violations, and the M23 rebels, linked to Rwanda by the UK and US, have threatened to withdraw from peace talks. Human Rights Watch reported that the rebel group killed at least 140 people in eastern DR Congo in July.

Thailand and Cambodia

On July 26, President Trump stated on Truth Social that he was calling the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand to request a “Ceasefire, and END to the War.” Within days, the two countries agreed to an “immediate and unconditional ceasefire” after less than a week of border fighting. While Malaysia facilitated the peace talks, President Trump threatened to halt separate negotiations on reducing US tariffs unless Thailand and Cambodia ceased hostilities. Both nations are significantly dependent on exports to the US. An agreement aimed at reducing border tensions was reached on August 7.

Armenia and Azerbaijan

The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have suggested that President Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in securing a peace deal, announced at the White House on August 8. Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution believes Trump deserves “good credit” for pushing the parties towards peace with the Oval Office signing ceremony. The two governments had expressed readiness to end their nearly 40-year conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh in March.

Egypt and Ethiopia

While there was no “war” to end, Egypt and Ethiopia have long-standing tensions over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam on the River Nile, which was completed this summer. Egypt is concerned about its water supply from the Nile. After 12 years of disagreement, talks between the two countries stalled on June 29. President Trump commented that if he were Egypt, he “would want the water in the Nile” and promised a swift US resolution. Egypt welcomed Trump’s remarks, though Ethiopian officials stated they risked escalating tensions. No formal agreement has been reached to resolve their differences.

Serbia and Kosovo

On June 27, President Trump claimed to have prevented an outbreak of hostilities between Serbia and Kosovo, stating he warned them against conflict by threatening to halt trade with the United States. The two countries have a long-standing dispute, a legacy of the 1990s Balkan wars, with tensions rising in recent years. However, Professor MacMillan noted that “Serbia and Kosovo haven’t been fighting or firing at each other, so it’s not a war to end.” The White House highlighted Trump’s diplomatic efforts in his first term, which included economic normalization agreements signed in 2020, but these nations were not at war at that time.

While President Trump has claimed credit for ending multiple conflicts and his administration has championed his role as a “peacemaker,” an examination of these situations reveals varying degrees of direct US involvement, the often short-lived nature of hostilities, and instances where formal peace deals have not been fully established or recognized by all parties.