Governments around the world are rapidly adopting the US president’s approach to diplomacy. Donald Trump has been weighing in on ongoing geopolitical conflicts, often offering trade as an incentive for US mediation to end wars, after initially claiming that the US would remain hands-off regarding the India-Pakistan conflict.
Trump has taken credit, claiming that he and his administration acted as peacemakers. The US president says his suggestion to prioritize trade over war has prevailed. However, questions remain: what is the nature of these trade deals, and who are the key parties involved? The situation is further complicated by the US president’s own personal business interests. Indian leaders have categorically denied any discussion of trade as a condition for agreeing to a ceasefire with Pakistan. However, a different story emerges from Pakistan.
In April, terrorists targeted tourists in Pahalgam. Shortly after, Pakistani media reported that the country’s army chief, Munin, personally welcomed a US delegation in Islamabad. Munin’s closed-door meeting with the delegation aimed to finalize a deal between the crypto firm Royal Liberty Financial and Pakistan’s newly established crypto council.
Royal Liberty Financial is a crypto company in which the Trump family reportedly holds a 60% stake. The Pakistan Crypto Council itself was launched just a month ago, with the stated goal of making Islamabad the crypto capital of South Asia. The council also enlisted Binance’s founder, Chinese-born Changpeng Zhao, as an adviser.
Another element of Trump’s mediation interests involves US citizen Gentry Thomas Beach, a longtime friend of Trump Jr., who reportedly studied with him in 1990. Media reports indicate that within days of Trump’s inauguration, Beach was in Islamabad. Presenting himself as a Trump associate, he met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif alongside potential investors under the umbrella of Whitebridge Global. Pakistani media quoted Beach as saying that Pakistan is the “front face” for the US in the region through Whitebridge’s real estate projects. Beach reportedly pledged billions of dollars to rebuild the skylines of Karachi and Islamabad.
All of this points to significant trade activity, but the question remains: who truly benefits? Interestingly, the US president’s business interests represent a notable shift from just over a year ago. According to Forbes, Trump’s wealth has more than doubled to over $5 billion this year, up from $2.3 billion in 2024. Unlike his first term, when Trump’s wealth declined, there is now a clear upward trend.