‘Operation Sindoor’, the codename for an Indian military plan that was de-escalated, became an unexpected topic at the UN General Assembly as US President Donald Trump cited it as proof of his peacemaking prowess. Trump claimed he “stopped a war,” a narrative that India has consistently and firmly rejected.
In his address, Trump listed his alleged intervention between India and Pakistan as one of seven major conflicts he had personally prevented. He has used this claim over three dozen times in various settings, but never before on the biggest global stage of diplomacy. The mention is widely seen as part of his ongoing public campaign for a Nobel Peace Prize.
India’s official position on the matter is clear: the decision to halt military preparations was a sovereign one. New Delhi maintains that it chose to stop Operation Sindoor after a direct request from Pakistan, and that US influence was not the deciding factor. Trump’s revival of the claim at the UN is therefore viewed as a direct contradiction and a slight to India’s independent decision-making.
While this historical dispute was one focus, Trump also launched a more contemporary attack, accusing India of funding the current war in Ukraine through its purchases of Russian oil. He labeled India a “primary funder” of the conflict, a severe charge that has put significant strain on the US-India relationship.
The dual focus on a past, disputed event and a current, contentious policy created a comprehensive critique of India’s strategic choices. For New Delhi, the speech was a frustrating experience, forcing it to once again correct the record on Operation Sindoor while simultaneously defending its current energy policy from the leader of a key ally.