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News18
09-08-2025
- Business
- News18
Peace For Profit: The Pitfalls Of Trump's Trade-First Diplomacy
Mediating complex conflicts using such transactional approaches risks undermining the sustainability of any agreements The second Donald Trump administration is known for its transactional diplomacy. With a combination of 'America First" and 'Peace through trade" policy approaches, Trump has actively transformed the American network of security guarantees into an overtly transactional system of resource and/or market access in exchange for security commitments. But this transactional approach has also extended into the realm of conflict mediation, where the Trump administration is using peace efforts as an opportunity not only to gain mineral or market access, but also to secure deals for private organisations associated with Trump or his allies. This transactional approach to the sensitive mediation process fails to keep its outcomes sustainable and threatens to endanger international security in the long term. Trump's record in maintaining international peace and security in 2025 might seem like a mixed bag on the surface. His mediation attempts in the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine conflicts were unsuccessful, as both Russia and Israel regularly violated negotiated ceasefires. His primary success came in mediating a peace deal between Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda. Besides that, there have been unilateral claims by Trump of having mediated the India-Pakistan confrontation in May and the Cambodia-Thailand confrontation in July, despite being openly denied by the parties involved. In the case of Israel and Palestine, the Trump administration floated a business-oriented redevelopment proposal for Gaza, branding it as the future 'Riviera of the Middle East." Though this was not a formal agreement, it was presented as a symbolic prelude to future mediation efforts, highlighting the administration's market-first vision of peace. In the case of DR Congo and Rwanda, the US signed a major mineral extraction and trade access deal with the Congolese government immediately following the peace deal. This deal included US investment rights in cobalt and coltan mining—with firms linked to Trump allies, including Gentry Beach, reportedly positioned to benefit. This has raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest and blurred the lines between American diplomacy and private gain. In the case of India and Pakistan, Trump claimed to have mediated a ceasefire in May, though this claim has been repeatedly denied by Indian officials. However, within weeks of the ceasefire, World Liberty Financial (WLF), a cryptocurrency firm 60 per cent owned by the Trump family, signed a blockchain cooperation deal with the Pakistani government. The timing surrounding this deal has raised further concerns about the transactional nature of Trump's mediation efforts, and whether peace attempts are being leveraged for personal-commercial benefit rather than security interests. Most recently, the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire was claimed by the White House as a product of Trump's 'peace through trade" strategy. While ASEAN, especially Malaysia, played the lead role in mediating the ceasefire, the Trump administration publicly asserted that US trade leverage and tariff threats helped pressure both parties. Irrespective of the credits, this public framing by the US supports the broader pattern of using economic pressure and transactional rhetoric to claim diplomatic wins. The US has an unmatched global military presence and the capability to intervene and guarantee the outcomes of mediation with the threat of force. This is also the reason why, despite numerous criticisms of US efforts in ensuring international peace and security, democratic-liberal values, and human rights, it still stands as a credible deterrent and a viable party to initiate mediation processes. These capabilities can be used to further Trump's transactional diplomacy and 'mineral for military" security guarantees, as partner nations may be willing to trade and develop deeper economic ties with the US. This approach has been part of US grand strategy since the end of the Second World War and has also deterred nations from direct military confrontation with a US-aligned partner. However, applying this approach to mediation efforts, especially in active conflict zones, may prove counterproductive. Each of these conflicts is deeply rooted in the historical, political, and emotional fabric of these nations, and 'trade" alone cannot resolve them. Trade might contribute to peace by enabling economic development and complex interdependence, raising living standards, and enhancing education quality—as seen most notably in the long-term reconciliation between the historical rivals France and Germany. However, it cannot guarantee peace without strong institutional support, inclusive policies, and domestic political will. Even where this strategy has seemed to yield temporary results, it is likely due to the looming threat of Trump's tariffs. Using security guarantees or undertaking military interventions has been a core aspect of US foreign policy practice. Over the years, it has used transactional models that range from trade to soft power. However, under Trump this approach has been extended from security guarantees to conflict mediation, with trade with the US and Trump partners as the core aspect of all these deals. Mediating complex conflicts using such transactional approaches risks undermining the sustainability of any agreements. When further complicated by the involvement of private actors and credible accusations of conflict of interest or corruption, the legitimacy and endurance of these agreements come into question. Therefore, applying Trump's transactional approaches to conflict mediation might weaken not only his bid to present himself as a peacemaker, but also undermine international peace and security, with the omnipresent risks of these conflicts resurfacing in the future. Abhishek Kadiyala is a Research Analyst at the Takshashila Institution's Indo-Pacific programme with a focus on the United States and US-India relations. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18's views. tags : Cambodia donald trump pakistan thailand view comments Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: August 09, 2025, 14:55 IST News opinion Opinion | Peace For Profit: The Pitfalls Of Trump's Trade-First Diplomacy Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Express Tribune
30-01-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PM vows unwavering support for foreign investors
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reaffirmed his government's unwavering commitment to facilitating foreign investors by ensuring a conducive business environment, streamlined processes, and robust institutional support. The prime minister, in a meeting with an international investors delegation, led by leading US investor Gentry Beach, underscored the country's unique appeal as a global investment destination, highlighting its strategic geographical location, skilled and youthful workforce, and rapidly expanding consumer market. Discussing Pakistan's dynamic investment landscape and promising economic potential, he expressed gratitude for the delegation's keen interest in exploring business opportunities in Pakistan. Gentry Beach commended Pakistan's immense economic potential and conveyed his delegation's enthusiasm to explore diverse investment opportunities across key sectors, including mining and minerals, renewable energy, infrastructure development, and technology. He acknowledged the government's pro-investment policies and expressed confidence in the nation's future growth trajectory. This high-level engagement reflects the government's proactive efforts to attract foreign direct investment, foster sustainable economic growth, and generate employment opportunities for the people of Pakistan. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Federal Ministers Muhammad Aurangzeb, Abdul Aleem Khan, Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State Ali Prevaiz Malik and SAPM Tariq Fatemi were also present in the meeting. Media talk Gentry Beach, the head of a delegation of US billionaire investors, has expressed his interest in investing billions of dollars in Pakistan. During a meeting with prominent journalists in Islamabad, Beach shared his enthusiasm about visiting Pakistan and praised the intelligence and hard work of the Pakistani people, emphasising the historical ties between the US and Pakistan. Beach highlighted the ongoing global shift towards a new era of peace and development and pointed out that efforts had been made in the US to create misconceptions about Pakistan. He noted that in the past, the American public had not been shown the true image of Pakistan, especially in light of the way the US withdrew from Afghanistan under the Biden administration. The head of the investor delegation also mentioned that US President Donald Trump believed in economic diplomacy. Beach revealed that the American investors' delegation had come to Pakistan to explore investment opportunities in various sectors, including artificial intelligence, real estate, and minerals. He added that the US was keen to invest billions of dollars in Pakistan. Beach acknowledged that Pakistan's current leadership was fully aligned with the new US administration, and he had met some of the world's finest people during his visit to Pakistan. He also recalled that Richard Grenell had personally informed him that he was misled by the promotion of fake videos online about the founder of PTI, using artificial intelligence. He further emphasised that Richard Grenell fully supports Pakistan's justice system and praised President Trump for being a hardworking and remarkable leader. Beach reaffirmed his commitment to advancing Trump's economic diplomacy agenda and expressed satisfaction with his meetings with Pakistani leadership.
Arab News
29-01-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Texas investor close to Trump eyes investments in Pakistan housing, energy, mineral sectors
ISLAMABAD: US investor and Texas hedge fund manager Gentry Beach, believed to be close to American President Donald Trump, said on Wednesday he was eyeing investments in Pakistan's real estate, mineral and energy sectors. A US business delegation led by Beach arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit on Tuesday to explore business opportunities, particularly in sectors like mining and minerals, renewable energy, infrastructure development and technology. Cash-strapped Pakistan, desperate to escape a prolonged macroeconomic crisis, been seeking investments from regional and other foreign allies to shore up its $350 billion economy. 'Real estate's going to be our first place of investment, it's going to be a significant real estate investment,' Beach told reporters in Islamabad when asked about key sectors he was interested in investing in. 'We are going to launch in a few different areas some incredible projects.' Part of the delegation's real estate plans included building 'super high-end luxury branded' villas. 'We have a number of brands that really want to come to Pakistan,' he said. 'And so we are very excited to build the highest-end product that's ever been built in Pakistan.' Beach said the delegation was also considering investments in Pakistani minerals, citing the country's large reserves of gold, platinum and other precious metals. Pakistani officials estimate $6 trillion worth of natural deposits in the country. 'We have several locations and due diligence that we are working on right now,' Beach explained. 'We're bringing in the teams as we speak to evaluate those. I believe that we will have one of those [agreements on minerals] signed, agreed to and funding in the next two weeks.' The American businessman acknowledged the problem of the US having outsourced its supply chain to China for rare earth elements. 'And that's over, okay. We don't have many enemies in the world but China is a place that is becoming more difficult for us for sure,' Beach said. 'And I would tell you that we are taking this into our own hands and we are going to get out and get the critical minerals that America and American businesses need,' he added, saying Pakistan would be an important partner in this shift. Beach said teams would be coming next month to evaluate Pakistan's oil and gas sector, appreciating the country's 'incredible natural gas infrastructure already in place.' 'You have the infrastructure, you never go to a developing country where the infrastructure is already in place and you have to just supply the gas,' he said. 'That is a huge opportunity.' Beach said the US could bring in Western technology in drilling in Pakistan and 'develop things very quickly.' 'We see ourselves as the first one through the door,' he said. 'Then we are going to bring lots of Western companies through the door.' Pakistan in 2023 nearly defaulted on the payment of foreign debts when the International Monetary Fund rescued it by agreeing to a $3 billion bailout to Pakistan. Last year, Islamabad secured a new $7 billion loan deal from the IMF. Since then, the country's economy has started improving with weekly inflation coming down from 27 percent in 2023 to 1.8 percent earlier this month. Sharif has also vowed to reduce dependence on foreign loans in the coming years and seek more direct investment. Pakistan's business and investment landscape poses considerable challenges. Complex and inconsistent regulations, inadequate protection of intellectual property rights, and ever-changing taxation policies are some of the many business climate challenges cited by investors. Security concerns marked by internal and regional conflicts also undermine investor confidence in protection and profitability of their investments. The Pakistani government launched the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in June 2023 to attract foreign investment from allies and other nations. Since its creation, the SIFC's scope has expanded into a wide range of policy areas. Despite the challenging investment climate, the United States is one of Pakistan's largest sources of FDI. US companies have profitable operations across a range of sectors, notably franchise operations, fast-moving consumer goods, agribusiness, and financial services. Other sectors attracting US interest include ICT, renewable energy and health care services.
