India took part in the first meeting of the Gaza Peace Board, an initiative led by U.S. President Donald Trump, acting as an observer rather than a full member of the board. The meeting was held in Washington, D.C. at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, focusing on discussions about peace and reconstruction in the war-torn Gaza Strip.

India was represented at the session by Namgya Khampa, Chargé d’affaires at the Indian Embassy in Washington. While India did not formally join the board, its participation as an observer shows that New Delhi is engaging diplomatically with international efforts to support peace and stability in Gaza.

President Trump set up the Board of Peace to support a long-term peace process and rebuild Gaza after years of conflict between Israel and Hamas. At the meeting, Trump announced that the United States plans to commit USD 10 billion to the peace effort. According to Trump, this funding will help support rehabilitation and development in areas affected by the war.

The board includes 27 member countries from around the world. Some of these include Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Trump has invited many global leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to consider joining the board as full members in the future.

Although India did not attend the earlier board launch event in Davos on January 22, it chose to be present at this inaugural meeting to stay informed about developments and discussions shaping the peace process. The initiative is seen as a platform to move beyond ceasefire agreements and work toward more sustainable peace and reconstruction.

Some international observers view the Board of Peace as a possible alternative or complement to existing global institutions, such as the United Nations. Trump has suggested that this board might eventually take on a broader role in global peace efforts, though this idea has drawn both support and criticism from different quarters.

India’s decision to attend as an observer reflects a cautious diplomatic approach. New Delhi has traditionally maintained that peace in the Middle East, including the Israel-Palestine conflict, should be resolved through dialogue and mutual agreement. The government is weighing how best to balance its longstanding positions with evolving international efforts like Trump’s peace board, while safeguarding its own strategic interests and relationships in the region.

By joining the meeting as an observer, India stays engaged in discussions on future reconstruction and peace-building efforts in Gaza without committing to formal membership at this stage. Indian diplomats will likely continue to monitor how this initiative progresses and what role India might play going forward.