Pakistan to recommend Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize

As the world nervously watches escalating tensions in the Middle East, one nation says it will formally recommend Donald Trump for the world’s top peace prize.

Pakistan says it will formally recommend Donald Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his work to resolve its recent conflict with India — as the US President complains he’s not being credited for his peacekeeping efforts in other global conflicts.

News of Mr Trump’s nomination for the esteemed prize came moments before he confirmed strikes on nuclear sites in Iran.

It also follows Mr Trump complaining he would not be recognised for his role in broking a peace deal between the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda.

The warring African nations said in a joint statement on Wednesday that they had initialled an agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern DRC, which will be formally signed in Washington next week.

“This is a Great Day for Africa and, quite frankly, a Great Day for the World!” Mr Trump said in a Truth Social post, confirming the breakthrough.

But his triumphant tone darkened as he complained that he had been overlooked by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for his mediating role in conflicts between India and Pakistan, as well as Serbia and Kosovo.

Pakistan says it is formally recommending US President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Picture: AP/Alex Brandon

He also demanded credit for “keeping peace” between Egypt and Ethiopia and broking the Abraham Accords, a series of agreements aiming to normalise relations between Israel and several Arab nations.

Mr Trump campaigned for office as a “peacemaker” who would use his negotiating skills to quickly end wars in Ukraine and Gaza, although both conflicts are still raging five months into his presidency.

Indian officials have denied that he had any role in its ceasefire with Pakistan.

The government of Pakistan, meanwhile, said it would formally recommend Mr Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize “in recognition of his decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership” during the recent conflict.

However, Trump’s claims for the Abraham Accords being able to “unify the Middle East” have yet to be realised, with war breaking out between Israel and Iran, and no end in sight to the conflict in Gaza.

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, former Foreign Minister of Pakistan and current head of the Pakistan People's Party, in Washington during diplomatic talks with India. Picture: Oliver Contreras/AFP

And critics say the Republican greatly exaggerated the significance of the 2020 Serbia-Kosovo agreements, which were statements of intent that were thin on details and quickly unravelled.

The president said officials from DR Congo and Rwanda would be in Washington on Monday for the signing, although their joint statement said they would put pen to paper on June 27.

The resource-rich eastern DRC, which borders Rwanda, has been plagued by violence for three decades, with a resurgence since the anti-government M23 armed group went on a renewed offensive at the end of 2021.

The deal — which builds on a declaration of principles signed in April — was reached during three days of talks between the neighbours in Washington, according to their statement.

Trump has received multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations from supporters and loyal politicians over the years.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosts a signing ceremony in which Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, left, and Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, right, pledge to work toward a peace deal. Picture: AP/Jacquelyn Martin

He has made no secret of his irritation at missing out on the prestigious award, bringing it up as recently as February during an Oval Office meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

US President Barack Obama won the prize soon after taking office in 2009, and Trump complained during his 2024 election campaign that his Democratic predecessor was not worthy of the honour.

One of the world’s top honours, the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded annually by the Norwegian Nobel Committee to a recipient who has “done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses”.

Recipients include Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Malala Yousafzai, the humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders, and the World Food Programme.

Originally published as Pakistan to recommend Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize