By Manisha Sahu | America News World
Published: October 14, 2025
In a rare diplomatic gesture at the Middle East Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, United States President Donald Trump paused his own address to invite Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to deliver brief remarks before an audience of global leaders. The unexpected move underscored Trump’s emphasis on Pakistan’s role in regional stability and his claimed success in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan earlier this year.
The summit, held on Monday, brought together heads of state and government from across the Middle East, South Asia, and Europe to discuss peace, reconstruction, and long-term security in the post-conflict Middle East. Among the attendees were UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
While Trump acknowledged many of these leaders during his closing remarks, it was only Shehbaz Sharif whom he invited to take the stage — a move that drew applause from parts of the audience and sparked international attention.
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Trump Praises Pakistan’s Leadership and Army Chief
Trump began his speech by expressing admiration for Pakistan’s military leadership, notably Army Chief General Asim Munir, whom he referred to as his “favourite field marshal.” The comment immediately set a friendly tone, reflecting the renewed warmth between Washington and Islamabad since Trump’s return to the White House earlier this year.
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“I have always had great respect for Pakistan’s military leadership. General Munir is a man who understands both discipline and peace,” Trump said, turning to Shehbaz Sharif with a smile. “And of course, Prime Minister Sharif — a great leader, a man who has worked tirelessly for stability in South Asia.”
Trump then paused and gestured toward Sharif, who was standing behind him on the stage. “Would you like to say what you said to me the other day? I think it was so nice,” Trump added.
Sharif Calls Trump “A Man of Peace”
Accepting the invitation, Shehbaz Sharif stepped up to the lectern and thanked Trump for his kind words. In his short but impactful speech, Sharif described the U.S. President as “a man of peace” and praised his administration’s diplomatic outreach across Asia and the Middle East.
“President Donald Trump has worked to build a world based on peace and prosperity,” Sharif said. “I would say that Pakistan has nominated President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his outstanding and extraordinary contributions — first to stop war between India and Pakistan, and then to achieve a lasting ceasefire along with his very wonderful team.”
Sharif’s remarks referred to Trump’s much-discussed claim that he personally mediated to stop cross-border hostilities between India and Pakistan in May 2025, following a period of heightened military tension. While both New Delhi and Islamabad have offered differing accounts of the ceasefire negotiations, Washington has maintained that Trump’s intervention played a decisive role in preventing escalation.
The Egypt Peace Summit: Symbolism and Strategy
The Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit, hosted by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, aimed to consolidate a new diplomatic framework for regional stability after the Israel–Hamas ceasefire earlier this month. Trump, who has repeatedly called himself “the peace president”, used the event to reinforce America’s leadership in global peacemaking.
In his broader address, Trump outlined a vision for a “New Middle East,” emphasizing reconstruction in Gaza, normalization of ties between Israel and its Arab neighbors, and stronger economic partnerships stretching from the Mediterranean to South Asia.
“Our goal is not just peace for today, but prosperity for the next generation,” Trump declared. “From Cairo to Karachi, from Tel Aviv to Jakarta — we must build bridges of understanding, trade, and mutual respect.”
The invitation to Shehbaz Sharif appeared to fit neatly into this narrative — positioning Pakistan as a key partner in Trump’s proposed “peace corridor” strategy, linking South Asia’s political stability to the Middle East’s reconstruction efforts.
Diplomatic Reactions and Global Attention
The moment between Trump and Sharif quickly went viral on social media, with clips circulating on X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube under hashtags like #TrumpSharifSummit and #PeaceInSouthAsia. While many observers praised the optics of cooperation, others noted that the gesture could complicate Washington’s delicate balancing act between India and Pakistan.
Analysts in Washington and Islamabad called the exchange a significant symbolic move. “Inviting Shehbaz Sharif to speak mid-speech is not just courtesy — it’s messaging,” said Dr. Farah Khan, a South Asia policy expert based in Washington. “It signals that the Trump administration views Pakistan as central to its peace diplomacy in the wider region.”
In India, however, the gesture drew mixed reactions. Some foreign policy commentators warned that excessive praise for Pakistan might reignite diplomatic sensitivities, especially as New Delhi continues to downplay Trump’s claim about brokering a ceasefire in May.
Looking Ahead
The Trump–Sharif interaction is likely to influence regional narratives in the coming weeks, especially as the U.S. prepares to host a Global Peace Forum in Washington next month. Both leaders are expected to meet again during that event, where discussions will center around the implementation of cross-border trade and security mechanisms in South Asia.
For now, the scene in Sharm El-Sheikh — with Trump stepping aside and Sharif calling him “a man of peace” — has become one of the defining images of the summit. Whether this symbolic moment translates into lasting diplomatic progress remains to be seen, but it has undeniably placed the Trump–Sharif partnership at the center of global conversation about peace in Asia and the Middle East.