India Stays Away as Donald Trump Launches ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza in Davos

Switzerland: US President Donald Trump formally launched the new peace forum called “Board of Peace” during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026. Its aim is said to be to bring stability after the Gaza conflict, although its scope has also been said to expand to more comprehensive conflict resolution. This initiative will be led by Trump himself and he has described it as working closely with the United Nations, although there are concerns that this new body could question the existing structure of the United Nations.

What were the other reasons for India's absence?

An invitation to join this board was already sent to India, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited. Yet India did not participate in the Davos event, nor did it sign any signatures, nor did any representative appear on the stage. India has neither accepted nor rejected the proposal, but it is currently under consideration.

Some reasons behind India's distance have emerged:

• India does not want to make a predetermined commitment to join a forum that is considered controversial at the international level.
• The structure of the “Board of Peace” and its responsibilities are not yet clear, due to which Indian policy analysts are cautious about the impact of the new international organization.
• India traditionally seeks to strike a balance with multiple parties in global conflict matters and has not taken any decision at this time.

Who all signed?

The charter of the Board of Peace was signed by a total of 19 countries and their representatives, including Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Apart from this, representatives of countries like Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE and Mongolia were present.

This initiative is also in the news because any major country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council (except the US) has given a clear indication of not joining, and some member countries like France, Britain, China or Germany have distanced themselves from this initiative.

Background of Trump's claims and controversies

Trump, in his address, claimed that he had played a role in preventing several wars, including the one between India and Pakistan last May, and said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan thanked him. India had earlier rejected this claim and said that the fighting had ended due to talks between Indian and Pakistani officials and not the initiative of any one individual. 

The official outline of the “Board of Peace” also includes the goal of establishing peace in other conflict-torn areas after the reconstruction of Gaza. Trump has hinted that the board's work could move forward as a complement or even an alternative to the UN's role, leading many countries to question the initiative's effectiveness.