Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt — October 13, 2025
In an unexpected moment of diplomatic theatre at the Gaza Peace Summit, former U.S. President Donald Trump — co-hosting alongside Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi — publicly praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a "very good friend" while extending a surprising olive branch to Pakistan, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif standing directly behind him.
“India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top. And he has done a fantastic job,” Trump said, flashing his signature smile. Turning slightly toward Sharif, he added, “I think Pakistan and India are going to live very nicely together,” drawing laughter from the Pakistani leader and reporters alike.
This wasn’t just a symbolic nod. Trump, always keen on seizing moments of grandeur, credited his administration for once again stepping in to de-escalate Indo-Pak tensions — which, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif later confirmed, brought the region back from the brink of nuclear conflict.
“Had it not been for this gentleman… the war could have escalated to a level where no one would have lived to tell what happened,” Sharif said, praising Trump's behind-the-scenes diplomacy during a four-day standoff earlier this year.
Trump didn’t shy away from reinforcing his narrative of being a global peacemaker. Just the day before, he addressed the Israeli Knesset and listed the India-Pakistan ceasefire as one of “eight conflicts” he claimed to have prevented.
🇮🇳 India at the Summit: A Strategic Presence
India sent Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh as PM Modi's special envoy — marking the first high-level Indian diplomatic engagement with Trump since Operation Sindoor.
Singh’s attendance signaled India’s cautious yet deliberate participation in regional peace dialogues that go beyond South Asia. In a statement, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India "welcomes the signing of the landmark peace agreement and hopes this will lead to lasting peace in the region."
🤝 Modi Acknowledges Trump’s Role
Later, in a public post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Modi praised Trump’s “unwavering peace efforts,” also highlighting the emotional return of the last 20 hostages held by Hamas for over two years.
“Their freedom stands as a tribute to the courage of their families, the unwavering peace efforts of President Trump, and the strong resolve of Prime Minister Netanyahu,” Modi posted.
🕊️ Ceasefire Signed, Hostages Freed, Hopes Renewed
The summit concluded with Trump, flanked by leaders from across the Arab and Muslim world, signing a landmark ceasefire agreement — a deal that many are calling “historic” in ending the years-long Gaza conflict. Trump described the moment as a “new and beautiful day” for the Middle East.
With high praise from both Indian and Pakistani leaders and growing support from key Middle Eastern powers, Trump appears to be rebranding himself not just as a peace broker — but perhaps even as a unifier across deeply divided regions.
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