India stays away as Trump unveils ‘Board of Peace’ on Gaza at Davos
Davos: In a significant geopolitical development, US President Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled a new international initiative titled the ‘Board of Peace’, aimed at bringing lasting peace to Gaza and addressing potential global conflicts.
However, India has chosen to stay away from the signing ceremony of the Board of Peace Charter, even as Pakistan and several other nations signed on to the initiative. The announcement was made on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting at the Swiss mountain resort of Davos.
President Trump had invited several global leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to be part of the new peace framework, which has been pitched as a post-ceasefire mechanism following the second phase of the Israel-Hamas truce in Gaza.
According to high-level sources, India has not taken a final decision on joining the Board of Peace. Officials indicated that the matter involves sensitive geopolitical and security considerations, and New Delhi is carefully evaluating various aspects before committing to the initiative.
India has consistently maintained that lasting peace in West Asia can only be achieved through a “two-state solution” that ensures security for Israel and a sovereign state for Palestine.
Notably, several major global powers, including France, the United Kingdom, China, and Germany, also stayed away from the signing ceremony, signaling reservations about the structure, mandate, and long-term implications of the proposed body. Countries such as Italy, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Slovenia, and Paraguay also declined the invitation.
In contrast, Pakistan joined the Board of Peace, along with Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Vietnam. Their participation has drawn attention, especially in the context of shifting diplomatic alignments in the region.
The United States is reportedly positioning the Board of Peace as a new international institution tasked with overseeing governance in war-ravaged Gaza, coordinating reconstruction funding, and ensuring administrative stability after nearly two years of Israeli military operations that caused widespread destruction.
According to the charter, the board aims to promote stability, restore credible and lawful governance, and safeguard lasting peace in conflict-affected or high-risk regions.
However, the initiative has sparked debate among diplomats and analysts, with some expressing concern that the Board of Peace could undermine or bypass the role of the United Nations in conflict resolution and post-war reconstruction. Critics argue that the legitimacy, representation, and enforcement powers of the proposed body remain unclear.
As global reactions remain mixed, India’s cautious approach reflects its broader diplomatic stance of strategic autonomy and adherence to internationally recognized frameworks for conflict resolution.
The coming weeks are expected to see further deliberations among nations on whether Trump’s ambitious peace initiative can gain wider global acceptance or face resistance similar to past parallel international mechanisms.
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