India attended the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” on Gaza in Washington as an observer, signalling diplomatic engagement while maintaining a cautious distance from the new initiative.
Representing India at the high-level gathering was Namgya C. Khampa, deputy chief of mission at the Indian Embassy. New Delhi did not commit any financial assistance, troop contribution or formal membership, indicating that it is still assessing the political and strategic implications of the US-led framework.
The meeting brought together more than 40 countries and the European Union to deliberate on Gaza’s post-war future, including reconstruction, governance, security mechanisms and economic revival. The United States announced a $10-billion contribution for rebuilding efforts, while some West Asian nations pledged funding and a few countries expressed willingness to support a proposed multinational stabilisation force.
India had earlier stayed away from the charter-signing event held in Davos in January. Its decision to attend the Washington meeting only as an observer reflects a calibrated approach, with officials closely watching how the initiative evolves and how major global players position themselves before taking a final call.
The “Board of Peace” is a central element of Trump’s Gaza plan, which envisages large-scale infrastructure rebuilding, the creation of a new Palestinian security structure and an internationally supervised administrative mechanism for the territory. However, the platform has drawn mixed reactions globally, with several key countries yet to join amid concerns over its structure and the limited role for the United Nations.
