Absence of major powers raises questions over new global body’s credibility
January 23, 20226: India did not participate as US President Donald Trump launched his proposed Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, raising questions about the credibility and intent of the new body. Although New Delhi was among nearly 60 countries invited, no Indian official attended the ceremony and the government is yet to decide whether to join. Apart from the United States, no permanent member of the UN Security Council or G7 country has signed on so far, while Pakistan was among the countries represented.
During the launch, Trump reiterated his claim of having ended “eight wars in nine months”, including the brief India-Pakistan conflict last May, a claim India has repeatedly rejected. With Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif present, Trump said he was praised for preventing escalation, even as India has maintained that hostilities ended after direct military-level communication between the two sides.
Concerns have also been raised over the board’s sweeping and open-ended mandate, which goes well beyond its originally stated focus on Gaza and could potentially undermine existing institutions like the United Nations. India is closely watching the positions of key partners such as France and Russia, while also engaging West Asian countries on the Gaza peace process, including through an upcoming Arab League foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi later this month.