General
General The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that India is currently reviewing the invitation from the United States to join the Board of Peace, proposed by US President Donald Trump in Gaza.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that India is currently reviewing the invitation from the United States to join the
Board of Peace, proposed by US President Donald Trump in Gaza.
While addressing a matter during a press briefing, MEA spokesperson
Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the proposal is being reviewed but did not specify if India would attend the first proposed meeting of the board, scheduled for February 19.
MEA on Thursday confirmed that New Delhi has received a formal communication from
Washington regarding participation in the board, but has yet to take a position. “As far as the Board of Peace is concerned, we have received an invitation from the US government to join the Board of Peace. We are currently considering this proposal and reviewing it,” Jaiswal said.
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India remains cautious
Jaiswal reiterated India’s longstanding support for peace and dialogue over the Gaza crisis, but stopped short of committing to the American-led initiative. “As you are aware, India has consistently supported efforts that promote peace, stability, and dialogue in West Asia. Our Prime Minister has also welcomed all such initiatives that pave the way for long-term and lasting peace in the entire region, including Gaza,” he said.
It is pertinent to note that Trump’s Board of Peace was formed under the umbrella of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, which welcomed its establishment as a transitional authority to support governance and reconstruction of Gaza.
The body is also expected to work with the International Stabilisation Force, a multinational peacekeeping entity authorised to help maintain the ceasefire and support demilitarisation and reconstruction efforts. The United States is placed as the chairman of the board with a founding Executive Board composed of senior figures that includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump special envoy
Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister
Tony Blair, World Bank president
Ajay Banga,
Jared Kushner and Marc Rowan, etc.
The Gaza Executive Board is expected to support the governance efforts on the ground. As of now, several nations around the world have accepted invitations to join or participate in the Board of Peace. Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, Pakistan, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates, have signalled acceptance, viewing the initiative as a mechanism to consolidate the Gaza truce and support reconstruction.
As per multiple reports, the Board has extended invitations to around 60 nations, and more than 27 nations are said to have agreed to participate. Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Vietnam are among those listed as members.
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Meanwhile, several traditional Western democracies have rejected the invitation. France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain have either declined, delayed a decision, or adopted a cautious approach, expressing doubts.