India Participates as Observer at Donald Trump’s Board of Peace Discussions

India participated on Thursday in the inaugural Board of Peace meeting hosted by U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., attending as an observer nation rather than as a formal member of the new international initiative focused on peace and reconstruction, particularly in the Gaza Strip.

The Board of Peace, unveiled by Trump earlier this year as part of his administration’s broader plan to address the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, aims to mobilise global support for stabilisation and rebuilding efforts in Gaza. Although 27 nations have formally joined the board, India opted to send an observer rather than commit to full membership at this stage.

Representing India at the meeting was Namgya C. Khampa, Charge d’Affaires at the Indian Embassy in Washington, who attended discussions at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace alongside diplomats and officials from other countries. India’s presence reflected a cautious but engaged diplomatic posture, signalling interest in peace processes while carefully weighing its role in the evolving international initiative.

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The Indian government has made clear that it has not formally joined the Board of Peace and continues to review invitations from the United States. New Delhi’s participation as an observer suggests a strategic balance: staying involved in high-level talks on regional peace without committing to a structure that some foreign policy analysts see as potentially competing with traditional multilateral institutions like the United Nations.

At the Washington meeting, President Trump announced a U.S. commitment of about USD 10 billion toward the Board’s efforts to rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure and support long-term stability. Leaders and representatives from nearly 50 countries participated in the session, including other observer nations such as Germany, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

India’s decision to attend as an observer underscores its broader diplomatic approach toward Middle East peace initiatives: remaining engaged in international efforts while maintaining flexibility on formal alignment with new frameworks. As global discussions on Gaza’s future continue, New Delhi’s observer role may position it to influence dialogue and cooperation without full institutional commitment.

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