By john zurcher
Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt – October 14, 2025
In a surprising display of diplomatic warmth amid the high-stakes Gaza Peace Summit, U.S. President Donald Trump showered praise on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, calling him a “good friend” and expressing optimism about India-Pakistan relations. The comments, delivered during a joint press interaction with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, highlighted Trump’s vision for regional stability in South Asia as a cornerstone for broader Middle East peace efforts. Standing just behind him, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif nodded in agreement, a gesture that elicited chuckles from the assembled world leaders and underscored the fluid alliances at play.
Donald Trump and Shehbaz Sharif at world leaders’ summit on ending the Gaza war. (Photo: Reuters)
The summit, hosted in the sun-drenched resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, brought together over two dozen heads of state to broker a ceasefire in the ongoing Gaza conflict. Co-chaired by Trump and al-Sisi, the event marked a pivotal moment in U.S. foreign policy, with the administration pushing for a comprehensive deal involving the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey. Yet, it was Trump’s off-the-cuff remarks on Indo-Pak ties that stole the spotlight, injecting a dose of levity into what has been a tense gathering.
“India is a great country with a very good friend of mine at the top,” Trump declared to a throng of reporters, his trademark grin flashing under the Mediterranean sun. “And he has done a fantastic job. I think that Pakistan and India are going to live very nicely together.” Turning slightly, Trump gestured toward Sharif, who stood stoically in a dark suit, offering a subtle thumbs-up that drew laughter from the crowd. The exchange wasn’t scripted, but it spoke volumes about the personal rapport Trump has cultivated with both leaders during his tenure.
Modi, notably absent from the summit, was nonetheless a central figure in Trump’s narrative. The Indian Prime Minister had cited scheduling conflicts and a packed domestic agenda—including preparations for upcoming state elections—as reasons for skipping the event. Sources close to the Indian delegation whispered of deeper motivations, including reluctance to share the stage with certain regional players. “PM Modi sends his full support for peace in Gaza,” a spokesperson reiterated, but the optics of his no-show fueled speculation. Opposition voices in India, led by Congress spokesperson P. Chidambaram, seized on the moment, tweeting, “Trump claims he stopped the India-Pak conflict for the 51st time—yet our PM remains silent. Is this diplomacy or deference?”
Trump’s endorsement of Modi comes against the backdrop of strengthened U.S.-India ties under the Trump administration. Since his 2024 reelection, Trump has doubled down on the Quad alliance, funneling billions in defense tech and trade deals to counterbalance China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. Modi’s “fantastic job” likely nods to India’s economic surge—GDP growth hitting 7.2% in the last quarter—and its pivotal role in global supply chains. Yet, the praise also serves a strategic purpose: by elevating Modi, Trump indirectly bolsters his own legacy as a dealmaker who can bridge historic rivalries.
Sharif’s presence added another layer of intrigue. The Pakistani leader, who ascended to power in a contentious 2024 election, has been navigating a delicate balancing act. Domestically, he’s grappling with economic woes and militant threats; internationally, he’s mending fences with the West post the Taliban’s Afghan takeover. At the summit, Sharif didn’t hold back his admiration for Trump. In a separate briefing, he credited the U.S. president with “halting the war with India” during last year’s border flare-up in Kashmir—a skirmish that saw artillery exchanges but no full-scale conflict, thanks in part to backchannel U.S. mediation. “President Trump is a true peacemaker,” Sharif gushed, his words met with a wry smile from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, whose frozen expression became an instant viral meme on social media.
The Gaza talks themselves progressed haltingly. A draft ceasefire agreement, signed by the U.S., Egypt, Qatar, and Turkey, outlines phased hostage releases, humanitarian corridors, and reconstruction funding pegged at $50 billion over five years. Trump touted it as “the deal of the century,” but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attending virtually, expressed reservations over enforcement mechanisms. Hamas representatives, absent from the table, issued a cautious statement via intermediaries in Doha, welcoming “steps toward de-escalation” but demanding guarantees on Palestinian statehood.
Trump’s pivot to South Asia wasn’t mere banter. Analysts see it as a calculated signal: peace in Gaza can’t thrive without stability on the subcontinent, where nuclear-armed India and Pakistan hold sway over 1.7 billion people. “Regional peace depends on good friends doing good things,” Trump quipped, a line that encapsulated his folksy yet firm approach. Shashi Tharoor, the influential Indian MP, weighed in from New Delhi, questioning whether Modi’s absence was “strategic restraint or a missed opportunity.” Tharoor argued that India’s voice—representing the world’s largest democracy—could have amplified calls for a two-state solution, drawing parallels to its mediation in the Russia-Ukraine grain deal.
Back in the U.S., the summit plays into Trump’s 2026 midterm playbook. With approval ratings hovering at 52%, he’s leveraging foreign policy wins to deflect domestic critiques on inflation and border security. Critics, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, dismissed the Modi-Sharif nod as “theater,” accusing Trump of prioritizing photo-ops over substance. Yet, supporters like Senator Lindsey Graham hailed it as “vintage Trump—building bridges where others see walls.”
As the summit wrapped its first day, the real test lies ahead. Will Trump’s charm offensive translate into tangible pacts? For Modi and Sharif, the gesture from afar offers a rare public thaw in decades of enmity. In a region scarred by partition’s legacy, such moments—however fleeting—remind us that diplomacy often dances on the edge of humor and hope.
The Gaza Peace Summit continues through Wednesday, with side sessions on Afghan stability and counterterrorism. America News World will provide live updates as leaders navigate the path from rhetoric to resolution.
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