Trump Claims to Have Resolved Many Wars

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President Donald Trump claims he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize after engaging in eight conflicts since assuming office last January. However, many of the underlying issues remain unresolved, and hostilities have reignited in some areas, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

Here are some of the key international disputes Trump has involved himself in:

Armenia and Azerbaijan
On August 8 of the previous year, Trump facilitated a meeting between Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders to sign a joint declaration promising to pursue peaceful relations, ending decades of hostility. Later, Trump explained on a radio show that he got to know the leaders through trade dealings. He questioned their ongoing conflict, saying, “Why are you guys fighting? I told them, ‘I won’t do a trade deal if you’re fighting — it’s crazy.'” The two nations agreed to a ceasefire in 2023 and drafted a peace agreement in March, though it remains unsigned. The White House-backed declaration stops short of a formal treaty and includes unresolved issues, such as Armenia possibly needing to revise its constitution. Economic deals were also made, granting the U.S. development rights through a strategic transit corridor in southern Armenia, purportedly to boost energy exports. Vice President JD Vance visited both countries in February, signing strategic partnerships and a nuclear accord.

Cambodia and Thailand
Tensions persist between Thailand and Cambodia despite a fragile ceasefire brokered in part by Trump. After a five-day military clash along the border in July—the worst in over ten years—Trump reached out to then-acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai two days after hostilities began. He conditioned trade deals on an end to the conflict. Trump oversaw a ceasefire agreement signed in Malaysia in October, but it collapsed within weeks, prompting a new ceasefire on December 27.

Israel, Iran, and Palestinian Territories
Trump chaired a meeting of his Peace Initiative aimed at resolving conflicts in Gaza. In October, Israel and Hamas agreed to a first-phase ceasefire and hostage deal, but fighting persists. The agreement marked progress in ending a two-year conflict that resulted in over 67,000 Palestinian casualties, with both sides exchanging accusations of breach. Fundamental issues remain unresolved, including Hamas’ disarmament, governance of Gaza, and the presence of international security forces. Trump also sought to expand the Abraham Accords, normalizing relations between Israel and Arab countries. Initially, he engaged with Iran over its nuclear program, but Israel’s aerial strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities in June, with U.S. support, intensified tensions. Trump claimed to have obliterated Iran’s key nuclear sites, though reports suggest the program was only temporarily damaged. Recently, Trump has threatened Iran with increased military pressure, including a significant buildup in the Middle East.

Rwanda and Democratic Republic of the Congo
This year, Rwanda-backed M23 rebels launched a swift offensive, controlling more territory in eastern Congo than ever before, raising fears of regional spillover. Under Trump’s influence, Rwanda and Congo signed a U.S.-brokered peace deal on June 27, though implementation remains incomplete. Trump hosted Congo and Rwandan leaders at a Washington event in December, where they reaffirmed their commitment to his peace plan. Nevertheless, fighting continues, with accusations from Congo and the U.S. of Rwanda violating commitments. Rwanda denies backing M23, but UN experts and Congolese officials dispute this. Separate talks mediated by Qatar are underway. A December agreement between Congo and the U.S. on critical minerals faces constitutional questions, casting doubt on its durability. The conflict ties back to the 1994 Rwandan genocide, with the U.S. keen on accessing Congo’s strategic minerals to compete with China.

India and Pakistan
In May, tensions between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan surged following an attack India blamed on Pakistan. Trump, along with Marco Rubio and JD Vance, urged de-escalation. A ceasefire was declared after four days of fighting, though fundamental disputes remain unaddressed. Trump later claimed that U.S. threat of trade sanctions helped secure the truce, a point India disputes.

Egypt and Ethiopia
Long-standing tensions over Ethiopia’s Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam continue, with Egypt fearing water shortages in the Nile. Trump expressed confidence in a resolution, saying, “We’re working on that one problem, but it’ll be solved.” Later, the White House suggested the conflict was formally resolved, though details remain unclear. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed proceeded with dam filling in September despite objections from Egypt and Sudan. Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has vowed to defend Egypt’s interests.

Serbia and Kosovo
Five years after Trump brokered peace agreements to enhance economic ties, tensions still simmer. Trump claimed to have halted a war between them during his first term and intended to fix the situation again. Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but Serbia views it as part of its territory, and no peace treaty exists. Prime Minister Albin Kurti seeks greater control over northern Kosovo, inhabited mainly by ethnic Serbs skeptical of independence. President Vjosa Osmani credited Trump with preventing escalation recently, though Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic denied concerns of imminent conflict.

Russia and Ukraine
During his 2024 campaign, Trump controversially claimed he could resolve the Ukraine conflict within a day. The nearly four-year war has left over a million casualties, and efforts to end it have stalled. Trump has oscillated between calls for a ceasefire and insisting negotiations could still succeed amid ongoing combat. He imposed sanctions on Russia’s largest oil firms in October and recently pushed Ukraine’s leader to accept a deal favoring Moscow, causing concern among European allies. Recently, no significant progress has emerged from these efforts.

South Korea and North Korea
Trump expressed intentions to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong Un once more to push for peace. During his presidency, Trump held three summits with Kim, but talks ultimately broke down over nuclear disarmament demands. North Korea has since advanced its missile and nuclear programs. Trump acknowledged North Korea’s nuclear capabilities in his second term and supported Seoul’s pursuit of nuclear submarines, while Kim suggested negotiations could resume if the U.S. dropped its nuclear demands.

Additional Notes:
Many conflicts Trump engaged with remain unresolved or have seen renewed hostilities, emphasizing the challenges of his interventionist approach on the global stage.