India is yet to take a call on joining US President Donald Trump’s newly announced “Board of Peace,” a global initiative aimed at ensuring lasting peace in Gaza and addressing broader international conflicts, sources familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among several world leaders invited to the Board, which forms part of the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. Trump is scheduled to announce the charter and framework of the Board on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday.
India is examining multiple facets of the initiative, as it involves sensitive strategic and diplomatic considerations, officials indicated. Countries that have formally accepted Trump’s invitation include Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam.
Several nations, including China, Germany, Italy, Paraguay, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine, have remained non-committal.
Also read: Greenland, Canada in Donald Trump’s new map
The White House has described the Board of Peace as an international body designed to promote stability, restore lawful governance, and secure enduring
peace in conflict-affected regions. The body is projected to oversee governance and coordinate international funding for Gaza’s redevelopment after two years of Israeli military offensives.
A report on the Board’s charter noted that it “seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.” A senior White House official added that the Board will comprise exclusively heads of state under Trump’s leadership.
The initiative aligns with a 20-point plan announced by the Trump administration to deradicalise Gaza, transform it into a terror-free zone, and redevelop the strip for civilian benefit.
The executive arm of the Board includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Marc Rowan, CEO of Apollo Global Management, and US national security adviser Robert Gabriel are also part of the founding executive committee.
The executive committee will oversee the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) to operationalise the Board’s objectives. India’s government is currently reviewing the potential diplomatic, strategic, and humanitarian implications before arriving at a decision.
Follow us
