NEW DELHI – In a move that highlights Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assertive foreign policy, renowned political scientist Ian Bremmer stated on Friday that PM Modi could have easily avoided embarrassing US President Donald Trump over his claims of brokering a truce between India and Pakistan, but chose to do the opposite. Bremmer, the president of the Eurasia Group, was referring to the diplomatic fallout following “Operation Sindoor” and the subsequent ceasefire in May.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Ian Bremmer drew a clear contrast between Prime Minister Modi and other global leaders. “The Chinese have stood up to Trump. And effectively the Russians have stood up to Trump… And I think Modi is in that space,” Bremmer was quoted as saying. He added that while most leaders would “suck it up” and remain silent to avoid a public spat with the US President, Modi “decided to publicly say, ‘No, you had nothing to do with this,’ and really did embarrass Trump on the global stage.”
The diplomatic friction stems from the ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May, which brought an end to days of military clashes. The conflict, codenamed “Operation Sindoor,” was a retaliatory military action launched by India in response to a terror attack in Pahalgam. Following the cessation of hostilities, US President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed credit for mediating the truce, even linking it to trade talks with both nations.
However, New Delhi has consistently and firmly denied any third-party intervention. In a powerful address to the Lok Sabha in July, Prime Minister Modi personally dismissed Trump’s claims, stating, “No leader in the world asked India to stop military action.” He further elaborated on the events leading up to the ceasefire, recalling that then-US Vice President JD Vance had called him to warn of a planned major attack by Pakistan. PM Modi’s response, as he told the Parliament, was a resolute message that “If this is Pakistan’s intention, it will pay a heavy price.”
Ian Bremmer praised this strategic decision, noting that Modi chose to make the rebuttal public despite Trump’s position as the leader of a much more powerful nation. He contrasted this with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who, Bremmer says, is in a “very weak position” and has chosen to work with Trump despite their personal differences. Bremmer suggested that Modi’s firm stance has helped him domestically, though the broader consequences on the security and economic relationship between India and the US remain to be seen.
Despite Trump’s repeated assertions, India maintains that the ceasefire was reached bilaterally after Pakistan’s Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) contacted his Indian counterpart, and was in no way a result of any external mediation.