Trump says he ended seven wars – did he?

President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed to have ended multiple wars during his second term, citing as many as seven conflicts and telling European leaders at the White House last week: "I've ended six wars… all of these deals I made without even the mention of the word 'ceasefire'."

A day later, the number had risen to seven. The White House has described Trump as "peacemaker-in-chief" and said a Nobel Peace Prize is "well past time." But while Trump has highlighted agreements from Asia to Africa, a closer look suggests many remain fragile, and in some cases the fighting never reached the scale of war, says the BBC.

Israel and Iran

The most recent confrontation Trump claimed to have settled was a 12-day conflict that began on June 13 after Israel struck targets in Iran. The United States also carried out strikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

On June 23, Trump posted: "Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei declared a "decisive victory" and did not acknowledge a ceasefire. Israel has since warned it could strike again.

"There is no agreement on a permanent peace or on how to monitor Iran's nuclear programme going forward," said Michael O'Hanlon, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. "So what we have is more of a de facto ceasefire than an end to war."

India and Pakistan

In May, hostilities broke out in Kashmir. After four days of fighting, Trump announced that India and Pakistan had agreed to a "FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE," saying it followed "a long night of talks mediated by the United States."

Pakistan thanked Trump and nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize for his "decisive diplomatic intervention." India, however, downplayed the US role. "The talks regarding cessation of military action were held directly between India and Pakistan under the existing channels established between both militaries," Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said.

Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo

Clashes erupted earlier this year when the M23 rebel group seized territory in eastern Congo. In June, Rwanda and Congo signed a peace agreement in Washington, which Trump said would "help increase trade between them and the US"

The text reaffirmed an earlier ceasefire agreed in August 2024, but both sides have since accused each other of violations. "There's still fighting between Congo and Rwanda – so that ceasefire has never really held," said historian Margaret MacMillan.

Thailand and Cambodia

On July 26, Trump wrote: "I am calling the Acting Prime Minister of Thailand, right now, to likewise request a Ceasefire, and END to the War, which is currently raging."

Days later, the two countries announced an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire" after less than a week of border clashes. Malaysia hosted the peace talks, but Trump said he had threatened to block trade negotiations unless fighting stopped.

On Aug. 7, Thailand and Cambodia signed a follow-up agreement aimed at reducing border tensions.

Armenia and Azerbaijan

At a White House ceremony on Aug. 8, Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a peace deal to end decades of conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. Leaders of both countries said Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize for his role.

"I think he gets good credit here – the Oval Office signing ceremony may have pushed the parties to peace," said O'Hanlon.

Egypt and Ethiopia

Trump has also cited US involvement in talks between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, though the dispute never involved direct fighting.

"If I were Egypt, I'd want the water in the Nile," Trump said in June, promising to resolve the issue quickly. Egyptian officials welcomed the remarks, but Ethiopia said they risked inflaming tensions. No agreement has been reached.

Serbia and Kosovo

Trump has claimed he prevented new conflict in June, telling supporters: "Serbia, Kosovo was going to go at it, going to be a big war. I said you go at it, there's no trade with the United States. They said, well, maybe we won't go at it."

The two countries, however, have not been in open war since the 1990s. "Serbia and Kosovo haven't been fighting or firing at each other, so it's not a war to end," said MacMillan.

Trump previously hosted economic normalization talks between Serbia and Kosovo in 2020, but analysts note that did not resolve their political dispute.

Stretching definitions

Historians and security analysts say Trump's record mixes short-term ceasefires, stalled negotiations and occasional breakthroughs, but does not amount to ending seven wars.

"Some of these outcomes represent de facto truces rather than lasting peace," O'Hanlon said. "It's hard to say the wars were truly ended."