A scene was seen in the inaugural session of the Board of Peace held in Washington, which is being discussed rapidly in the international media. During his address, US President Donald Trump gave himself full credit for peace between India and Pakistan. Not only this, he asked Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to stand up in the middle of the speech and then openly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This incident happened when Trump was talking about his claim to stop the conflict between India and Pakistan.

During the address, Trump said, ‘There was a big issue between India and Pakistan. I have spoken to Prime Minister Modi. He is very excited and in fact he must be watching this program right now. After this he pointed towards Shahbaz Sharif and asked him to stand up. Sharif stood up as per protocol. At the same time, Trump said from the stage, ‘India and Pakistan, thank you both very much. Modi is a great person and a very good friend of mine.

#WATCH | At the Board of Peace Event, US President Donald Trump says, “Pakistan and India, that was a big one. Pakistan and India, thank you very much. I spoke to Prime Minister Modi. He’s excited. He’s watching us right now.”

(Source: White House) https://t.co/EiZ39UDrwA pic.twitter.com/AnAug4zCLG

— ANI (@ANI) February 19, 2026

‘Stopped the war with one phone call’ – Trump claims

Reiterating his old claim, Trump said that he had stopped a possible war between India and Pakistan last year through a phone call. He said, ‘When I came to know that both the countries are fighting and planes are being shot down, I picked up the phone and said that if the war does not stop, I will impose 200 percent trade tariff on both the countries.’ However, India has already clarified that there was no role for any third party in any ceasefire or peace process between India and Pakistan. India has been continuously reiterating that such issues are resolved only at the bilateral level.

Uncomfortable situation for Pakistan

In the program, the way Trump raised Shehbaz Sharif from the public platform and at the same time praised PM Modi, many analysts have described it as an uncomfortable situation for Pakistan. Pakistan has been trying to strengthen its relations with America in recent times, but in Trump’s statements, India and Modi were repeatedly seen getting priority. This has raised questions on diplomatic balance.

A major analysis has emerged amid US President Donald Trump’s global activism and aggressive claims. Political affairs expert Ian Bremmer says that China’s President Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi are in many ways more powerful and in a better position than Trump.

This comment has come at a time when Trump is in the headlines for his claims of America’s profits through tariffs, stopping wars and the Nobel Peace Prize.

Ian Bremner said this
Speaking to India Today, Ian Bremmer said that even though America is the most powerful country in the world, it does not mean that its President is the most powerful leader. He said in clear words, ‘President Trump is not the most powerful leader. Xi is Jinping. According to Bremer, the biggest reason for this is that Xi Jinping does not have to face midterm elections nor does he face institutional challenges like an independent judiciary. He said that Trump may be out of office within three years, while Xi Jinping is in a position to remain in power for a long time.

Media headlines versus real power
Bremmer said that when Trump is focusing on the media and headlines, Xi Jinping is in a much stronger position than him. He also included the name of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in this list. According to Bremer, “Modi is also in a better position than Trump.”

Modi’s long tenure becomes strength
Bremmer said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s long and continuous tenure gives him the opportunity to take far-reaching policy decisions and see their long-term benefits. He said that this is not possible in the case of Trump or many European leaders, because they have to face constant electoral pressure and political instability.

He said, “As a leader, Modi’s long stay in power and continuity in policies make him more effective than many European leaders. This allows him to put forward his views strongly and can better face international pressures.” According to Bremer, examples of this have also been seen in recent years.

American initiative is not getting widespread support
Donald Trump on Thursday formally unveiled his proposed ‘peace board’ aimed at leading efforts to maintain the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel. However, many of America’s top allies have decided to stay away from this initiative. At present, Russia has said that it will consider this board, while Britain has flatly refused to join it. Apart from this, after France’s refusal, Norway and Sweden have also indicated that they will not be a part of this board.

US President Donald Trump has once again taken a big step in international politics. Eight major Muslim countries on Wednesday (21 January 2026) announced to join the Board of Peace formed by Trump. With this decision, a new debate has started regarding the arrangement after the Gaza war and the resolution of global disputes.

Muslim countries included in Trump’s Board of Peace include Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. All these countries have agreed to send their representatives to the board. This board has been created under a special mandate of the United Nations Security Council, whose primary objective is to monitor the post-war situation in Gaza. The time limit of this board has been fixed till 2027.

Trump’s big plan ahead of Gaza

Although the current focus of the board is Gaza, Donald Trump does not want to limit it only to this area. Trump intends to make this platform a center for resolving major disputes and conflicts around the world in the future. For this reason, he has emphasized on including those countries which are considered to have influence in global politics.

Why America is considering this as its diplomatic victory

The most special thing about this board is that it will be headed by Donald Trump himself for life. To become a permanent member, each country will have to pay a membership fee of one billion dollars. The board will hold a limited number of meetings a year, while a separate Gaza Executive Board has been formed to handle Gaza-related matters.

Linking Saudi Arabia to this initiative is being considered a major diplomatic achievement for Trump. Trump had been appealing to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to join this board for a long time. After Riyadh’s consent, the White House is presenting it as a major success.

Russia’s entry increased the stir

Meanwhile, Trump has also revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has accepted the invitation to join this board. According to Trump, only those people who have real power and influence will be included in the board. He said in a joking tone that if only weak or ineffective people are kept in it, no concrete results will be achieved.

Concern increased in western countries

There is uneasiness visible in many western countries regarding this initiative of Trump. Some diplomats believe that this board could weaken the traditional role of the United Nations. The Prime Minister of Slovenia has made it clear that his country will not be a part of this board. They argue that its scope is too wide and it could harm the existing structure of the United Nations.

Common message of Muslim countries

The eight Muslim countries included in the board have said in a joint statement that they are supporters of a just and lasting peace based on the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and an independent state. He believes that this initiative can prove to be an important step towards stability and security in West Asia.

How many countries have received invitation

According to the information, invitations have been sent to about 60 countries to join the ‘Board of Peace’. Israel, Egypt, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam have already agreed to join. Whereas Sweden, Norway and Italy have distanced themselves from this board. Spain says that European countries are deciding a collective stand on this issue.

Pope also got invitation

This initiative can be gauged from the fact that Pope Leo has also been invited to join the Board of Peace. The Vatican has said that this proposal is being considered and no decision will be taken without a complete review.

Also read: ‘Yes, I am a dictator, the world needs it’, Trump created a stir with his statement in Davos

Amidst the ceasefire efforts related to the Gaza crisis, different reactions are emerging at the international level regarding the ‘Board of Peace’ proposed by US President Donald Trump. While many countries have agreed to be a part of this initiative, some European countries have distanced themselves from it. India’s stand is not clear at the moment and New Delhi is still considering various aspects of this proposal.

US President Donald Trump has proposed the formation of a ‘Board of Peace’ under the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The objective of this board is said to be to advance the permanent peace process in Gaza and ensure international cooperation in handling the post-war situation. For this, formal invitations have been sent to leaders of many countries of the world, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Why is India not responding immediately?

According to PTI, sources related to this matter say that India has not yet taken any final decision regarding joining the board. India is thoroughly reviewing the diplomatic, political and strategic aspects related to this initiative. Since the issue related to Gaza is extremely sensitive, India wants to consider all possible implications before taking any decision. At present, no official statement has been issued by the government on this subject.

Which countries distanced themselves from the board

There is a lot of hesitation in Europe regarding this proposal of Trump. France, Norway and Sweden have rejected the invitation to join the ‘Board of Peace’. Apart from this, the executive branch of Britain, China, Italy, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Singapore, Slovenia, Croatia and the European Union have not yet taken any clear decision.

Which countries agreed to Trump’s proposal?

Many countries have accepted the invitation of the US President. Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Morocco, United Arab Emirates and Vietnam are ready to join this board. Pakistan has also agreed to support this initiative.

How many countries were invited?

According to a White House official, invitations to join the Board of Peace have been sent to about 50 countries. Of these, about 30 countries are expected to become part of the board. However, the detailed list or methodology in this regard has not yet been made public.

Also read: Russia-Ukraine War: ‘…then they must be fools’, this is what Trump said while talking about Putin-Zelensky

India has not yet taken any final decision on joining the ‘Board of Peace’ proposed by US President Donald Trump regarding Gaza. The political, diplomatic and strategic aspects of this initiative are under intense consideration within the government. According to sources familiar with the matter, this proposal deals with many sensitive issues, hence caution is being taken before reaching any final decision.

Indian officials have acknowledged that India has received a formal invitation to join this global initiative. However, it has also been made clear that receiving the invitation and attending it are two different things. India’s foreign policy has long been based on balance and strategic autonomy, keeping this in mind this proposal is being reviewed.

What is India’s stand?

According to sources, India’s traditional stance still remains that a permanent solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict is possible only through the two-nation theory. India supports every effort that sincerely moves towards lasting peace and stability in the region, but before joining any multilateral forum, it is considered necessary to examine its long-term effects. Donald Trump has recently shared the concept of this ‘Board of Peace’ by sending a letter to the leaders of about 60 countries.

The main concern of the Indian side

The main concern of the Indian side is that the scope of the proposed board may extend beyond Gaza in the future. It is feared that at some level this forum may also bring sensitive and internal issues like Kashmir under the ambit of discussion, which will not be acceptable to India. In this context, Trump’s old claims are also being remembered, in which he had taken credit for mediation in ending the limited military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025. India had then clarified that the ceasefire was the result of direct talks between the military officials of the two countries and not the mediation of any third party.

France’s cautious stance

Like India, France is also adopting a cautious stance regarding this proposal. Sources associated with the French Presidential Office have indicated that Paris is currently not in favor of joining this board. France, together with its partner countries, is assessing the legal framework of this initiative and its impact on the UN system. The French side believes that the proposed charter is not limited to Gaza only and it may conflict with the existing principles of the United Nations and the multilateral system.

Confirmation of invitation to join the board

Countries like European Union, Russia, Belarus and Thailand have confirmed receiving invitation to join this board. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has said that he has accepted this proposal in principle, although the final terms are yet to be decided. It is being told that this board is connected to the second phase of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Announcement of formation of executive committee

The White House has also announced the formation of an executive committee to implement this plan. This committee includes names like US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Also read: Will America send troops to capture Greenland? Donald Trump gave such an answer, Britain and France will be shocked to hear this.