US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has maintained close contact with the leaders of both India and Pakistan, the White House confirmed, as tensions continue to escalate between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, addressing reporters at a briefing, reaffirmed that US President Donald Trump seeks a de-escalation of the conflict.
Before Trump, US Vice President JD Vance said that India and Pakistan “should de-escalate tensions, but he added that the US cannot control the nuclear-armed Asian neighbours and a war between them would be none of our business.”
He said, “We want this thing to de-escalate as quickly as possible. We can’t control these countries, though.”
Vance was further quoted as saying, “What we can do is try to encourage these folks to de-escalate a little bit, but we’re not going to get involved in the middle of a war that’s fundamentally none of our business and has nothing to do with America’s ability to control it.”
Both India and Pakistan are considered crucial partners for Washington, which is keen to counter China’s rising influence as a leader of the Global South or as an emerging global power.
The US relies on Pakistan for support in its fight against global terrorism, while simultaneously capitalising on India’s growing defence equipment demands, bolstered by a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) and maritime partnership to counter Chinese influence in the region.
Analysts and some former officials have suggested that the US’s deep involvement in diplomatic efforts to manage Russia’s war in Ukraine and the ongoing conflict in Gaza may limit its ability to exert direct pressure on India and Pakistan amid their escalating tensions.
Despite the high stakes, it is unlikely that Washington will apply significant additional pressure on New Delhi and Islamabad to resolve their current standoff, given the broader geopolitical calculations at play.
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