In a significant diplomatic gesture, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday lauded US President Donald Trump for his efforts in global stability, specifically crediting him for bringing “peace” between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan. During bilateral talks in the Oval Office, Carney called the American leader a “transformative president,” marking a distinct shift in Ottawa’s tone towards the Trump administration.
In his remarks, which were delivered with President Trump nodding in affirmation, Prime Minister Carney highlighted several achievements he attributed to the US leader. “You are a transformative president—the transformation in the economy, unprecedented commitments of NATO partners to defence spending, peace from India, Pakistan through to Azerbaijan, Armenia, disabling Iran as the force of terror,” Carney stated.
The meeting between the two leaders holds notable importance, as it comes after months of diplomatic unease between Canada and the US, triggered by trade issues, tariffs, and controversial remarks from Trump regarding the possibility of annexing Canada. Carney, who took office in March, had previously met Trump in May but Tuesday’s praise signals a deliberate attempt to reset the relationship.
Trump Reasserts Role as ‘Peacekeeper’
The Canadian Prime Minister’s remarks reinforced claims repeatedly made by President Trump regarding the recent cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. Just one day earlier, Trump had again asserted that his policy of using trade leverage, specifically tariffs, was key to halting global conflicts, including the South Asian crisis.
“If I didn’t have the power of tariffs, you would have at least four of the seven wars raging,” Trump claimed in a separate address on Monday. He specifically referenced the India-Pakistan escalation: “If you look at India and Pakistan, they were ready to go at it. Seven planes were shot down… what I said was very effective.”
Since the ceasefire agreement on May 10, following intense cross-border exchanges, President Trump has repeatedly claimed that he “helped settle” the tensions, asserting his diplomatic intervention during a “long night” of discussions mediated by Washington. This claim has been reiterated nearly 50 times, positioning the US President as the key mediator who “prevented a major war” in the region.
India Firmly Rejects Third-Party Role
Despite the strong endorsements from both President Trump and now Prime Minister Carney, the Government of India has consistently and firmly rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation in its relationship with Pakistan.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has repeatedly clarified that the understanding on the cessation of hostilities was reached directly between the two countries’ militaries. The ceasefire followed four days of intense cross-border fire, which began in retaliation for the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. India launched “Operation Sindoor” on May 7, targeting terror infrastructure across the border before the Directors General of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan established contact to agree upon the truce on May 10.
While Carney’s praise may serve to ease diplomatic tensions between Canada and the United States, his comments put Canada at odds with India’s official position, which maintains that the resolution was a result of established bilateral military channels, without any external intervention.
