During his recent address to the United Nations General Assembly, former President Trump once again asserted that he had ended seven “unendable wars.” He voiced his frustration, stating, “It’s too bad I had to do these things instead of the United Nations doing them.”
Known for frequently highlighting his role in resolving global disputes, particularly as he seeks a Nobel Peace Prize, Mr. Trump also criticized the United Nations. He claimed the organization “did not even try to help in any of them.”
Challenging the U.N.’s relevance, he questioned its “purpose,” suggesting its primary action was merely to “write a really strongly worded letter and then never follow that letter up.”
While some parties involved in these conflicts have acknowledged Mr. Trump’s efforts in de-escalating tensions or fostering peace discussions, his direct influence remains a subject of debate in other cases. Notably, his attempts to resolve the ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine have yet to yield success.
Let’s take a closer look at the specifics of Mr. Trump’s peace declarations.
Armenia and Azerbaijan: A Step Towards Peace?
In August, Mr. Trump hosted the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House to sign a joint declaration, aiming to bring their prolonged conflict closer to a resolution.
Although not a full peace treaty, this marked the first commitment toward an agreement since the eruption of violence in the 1980s.
Both nations’ leaders commended Mr. Trump for his intervention. However, Azerbaijan persists in its demand for Armenia to revise its Constitution, specifically to remove references to the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.
Furthermore, Azerbaijan continues to occupy certain areas of Armenia, citing security concerns, and the two countries have yet to finalize a mutually agreed border.
Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda: A Faltering Accord
Last June, top diplomats from Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo convened at the Oval Office in Washington to formalize a peace agreement. The deal was intended to conclude a war that had spanned over three decades.
Mr. Trump lauded the accord as “a glorious triumph.”
Despite initial optimism, negotiations for a comprehensive settlement have since stalled, and fierce fighting continues in the region.
India and Pakistan: Competing Claims of Resolution
Mr. Trump has claimed credit for mediating an end to a renewed military conflict between India and Pakistan, both nuclear-armed nations. This resurgence of hostilities occurred in May following a terrorist attack in Kashmir that resulted in 26 civilian deaths.
India acknowledges the U.S. played a role in mediating the dispute but maintains that it negotiated the end of fighting directly with Pakistan. India asserts that Pakistani officials requested cease-fire talks due to pressure from its military operations. Pakistan, however, refutes this account and has expressed gratitude to Mr. Trump for his assistance in ending the hostilities.
These conflicting narratives have strained relations between Washington and New Delhi, a dynamic further complicated by Mr. Trump’s trade policies.
Israel and Iran: A Fragile Cease-Fire
Following 12 days of intense military strikes in June, which included U.S. assaults on Iranian nuclear facilities, Mr. Trump unexpectedly announced a cease-fire agreement. He stated that the United States had brokered the truce and even asserted that Israeli warplanes reversed course at his direct command.
While neither side has publicly contested the American involvement in facilitating the truce, its long-term stability remains uncertain.
Although U.S. intelligence confirmed significant damage to Iran’s most advanced nuclear enrichment site from the bombings, some experts caution that Tehran might eventually resume uranium enrichment, a process crucial for developing nuclear weapons, at other locations.
Both Israel and the United States have consistently pledged to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Cambodia and Thailand: Trade Leverage for Peace
This summer, the two Southeast Asian neighbors experienced several days of border clashes, leading to at least 42 fatalities and the displacement of over 300,000 people. This marked one of the deadliest conflicts between them in decades.
At the time, the Trump administration was involved in trade negotiations with various nations. Mr. Trump reportedly informed the leaders of Thailand and Cambodia that trade talks would halt unless they agreed to a cease-fire.
Two days later, officials from both countries met in Malaysia for talks, facilitated by Malaysian and American representatives, and successfully brokered a deal to suspend hostilities.
Despite the cessation of fighting, critics argue that Mr. Trump’s intervention did not address the fundamental issues fueling the conflict.
Egypt and Ethiopia: Unresolved Dam Dispute
Egypt and Ethiopia are not currently in a military conflict, but there are growing concerns that a diplomatic disagreement over Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam could escalate into warfare.
Mr. Trump’s diplomatic efforts have made little headway in resolving this contentious issue. Ethiopia recently announced the completion of the dam, which was officially inaugurated this month. Both Egypt and Sudan strongly oppose the project, fearing it will significantly reduce the vital flow of water from the Nile River to their territories.
Kosovo and Serbia: Economic Pacts, Elusive Peace
Mr. Trump also referenced Kosovo and Serbia in his speech.
In 2020, the two nations signed an agreement in the Oval Office to foster economic cooperation. However, a formal peace agreement between them remains unsigned.
The core of the dispute revolves around Kosovo’s status, which declared independence 15 years ago. This declaration came almost a decade after NATO’s extensive 78-day bombing campaign in 1999, which expelled Serb forces from Kosovo following their brutal treatment of ethnic Albanians.
While the United States and many European countries recognize an independent Kosovo, Serbia—supported by its key allies Russia and China—continues to withhold recognition of Kosovo’s sovereignty.