India responded to the White House statement proposing Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. In foreign interest, the claim that Trump played a role in thawing relations between India and Pakistan has drawn some global attention and skepticism.
India stated on Friday that the White House need to be questioned about President Donald Trump’s eligibility for the Nobel Peace Prize, given his role in mediating numerous ceasefires and peace agreements since taking office again in January.
During an otherwise routine media briefing, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, was asked to comment on the proposal from Washington. Without actually going into the merits of the proposal, Jaiswal adroitly demurred, saying, “It would be better if you direct that question to the White House itself.” Such a subtle reply indicated that India was wary of being dragged into what might be perceived-cum-conceived-as political theater.
Dueling Narratives Over India-Pakistan Ceasefire
The spokesperson for the White House, Karoline Leavitt alleged that, between Moscow and New Delhi, Trump helped to relax frictions between several nations, citing India and Pakistan as examples. Leavitt attested that Trump has, since January, managed to oversee the resolutions of at least one international conflict a month. Mr Trump has “now ended conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia, Israel and Iran, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo, India and Pakistan, Serbia and Kosovo and Egypt and Ethiopia”, she said at a White House press briefing.
None the less New Delhi did not care to recognize any third-party involvement in its recent conflict with Pakistan. The situation spurred on after a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April, killing, according to reports, 26 civilians. In retaliation, India conducted Operation Sindoor, which was aimed at terror hideouts, across the border. Pakistan’s counteroffensive was thus neutralized, and the exchange of fire finally subsided led by a very brief ceasefire on May 10. Through-out this conflict, India claimed to have acted entirely on its own with no interference from foreign parties.
Trump To Win Nobel Peace Prize?
The kind of international support that Trump enjoys for the Nobel Peace Prize does provide evidence of India’s neutrality. His nomination has been formalized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who commended his extra effort in trying to bring calm to Gaza. Pakistan too expressed its interest to nominate Trump for his supposed role in regional diplomacy.
In his letter to the Nobel Committee, which he shared online, Mr Netanyahu said Mr Trump had “demonstrated steadfast and exceptional dedication to promoting peace, security and stability around the world.”
Historically, U.S. presidents who have carried out serious and commendable attempts to bring about peace have been selected for the Nobel Peace Prize. If Trump were to win the prize, he would thus join the ranks of Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama.
As the deliberations mount over Trump´s diplomatic legacy, October shall see the Nobel Committee adjudging its decision. India’s silence in this debate will continue so as to avoid any entanglement with international political endorsements and focus on navigating some of the most complicated regional dynamics placing itself at issue.
