Trump's Peace Portfolio: A Striking Omission in His Global Achievements List

Former President Donald Trump recently took center stage, once again highlighting what he considers the crowning achievements of his administration's foreign policy. Speaking to an enthusiastic crowd, Trump proudly recounted the successful brokering of multiple peace agreements, emphasizing their historic significance.

He specifically touted a series of deals, numbering up to seven by his count, as evidence of his unique diplomatic prowess. However, amidst this celebration of international breakthroughs, one crucial agreement was conspicuously absent from his list: the 2021 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement.

Trump's narrative primarily focused on the groundbreaking Abraham Accords, which saw the normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab nations, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco.

He also proudly mentioned the economic normalization agreement between Serbia and Kosovo, showcasing these as unprecedented steps towards regional stability and cooperation. For Trump, these deals represented a radical shift from traditional diplomatic stalemates, proving his administration's ability to forge peace where others had failed.

Yet, the omission of the India-Pakistan truce, announced in February 2021, raises significant questions.

This ceasefire, a direct agreement between the Directorate Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of both nations, brought a much-needed halt to hostilities along the Line of Control (LoC). For years, the LoC had been one of the world's most volatile borders, plagued by frequent cross-border shelling and skirmishes.

The 2021 agreement, which saw a renewed commitment to the 2003 ceasefire understanding, significantly de-escalated tensions and ushered in a period of relative calm.

What makes this omission particularly noteworthy is Trump's own history with the India-Pakistan dynamic. Throughout his presidency, he repeatedly offered to mediate the long-standing Kashmir dispute, positioning himself as a potential peacemaker between the two nuclear-armed rivals.

Despite these public overtures, the ultimate truce was a bilateral effort, negotiated directly between New Delhi and Islamabad, without direct U.S. mediation. This likely explains its absence from Trump's list, as he typically focuses on deals where his administration played a central, hands-on role.

The selective acknowledgment of international peace efforts, however, underscores a broader point about how diplomatic successes are recognized and attributed.

While the Abraham Accords and the Serbia-Kosovo deal undoubtedly represent significant achievements, the India-Pakistan ceasefire, a critical de-escalation in one of the world's most dangerous flashpoints, holds immense importance for regional and global stability. Its omission from a comprehensive list of peace accomplishments highlights a narrative that prioritizes direct U.S.

intervention over equally vital, albeit bilaterally brokered, breakthroughs. It serves as a reminder that the path to peace is multifaceted, and not all victories necessarily bear the prominent stamp of a single external mediator.