India Sends Senior Diplomat Namgya Choden Khampa to Washington as Observer at Trump’s Board of Peace Inaugural Meeting
India’s cautious yet deliberate engagement with a new global diplomatic initiative was on display when Namgya Choden Khampa, Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Washington, DC, represented New Delhi at the inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace on February 19, 2026. The meeting, hosted at the US Institute of Peace in Washington, marked the formal beginning of a multilateral forum initially focused on stabilizing Gaza.
India’s Role as Observer
India participated in the meeting as an observer, signaling openness to dialogue while refraining from committing to full membership at this stage. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier stated on February 12 that the proposal was under consideration, following an invitation to join the initiative. India’s absence at the World Economic Forum (WEF) launch in Davos on January 22 and subsequent observer participation reflects a calibrated diplomatic approach—supporting stability in Gaza while carefully evaluating the evolving mandate of the Board.
What Is Trump’s Board of Peace?
The Board of Peace was conceived as a multilateral mechanism to:
Oversee the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.
Support reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.
Assist in governance and long-term stability of the territory.
President Trump has since suggested that the Board could expand its scope to address other global conflicts, potentially evolving into a multilateral institution rivaling the United Nations in influence.
The inaugural meeting saw participation from nearly 50 countries, with 27 nations joining as formal members—including Pakistan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, and Indonesia—while others, such as India and the European Union, attended as observers.
Who Is Namgya Choden Khampa?
Early Life and Education
Born on February 12, 1977, in Uttarakhand.
Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer of the 2000 batch.
Holds Master’s and MPhil degrees in International Relations.
Current Role in Washington
Serving as Chargé d’Affaires and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy.
Oversees high-level political dialogue, economic cooperation, and strategic coordination between India and the US.
Acts as Head of Mission in the absence of an ambassador.
Career Highlights
China (2002–2006, 2013–2016): Two postings during critical phases in India–China relations.
United Nations, New York (2009–2013): Represented India at the UN; elected to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ); served on the Executive Boards of UNDP and UNFPA.
Nepal: Deputy Chief of Mission in Kathmandu during a sensitive phase in bilateral relations.
Kenya & Somalia (2023): High Commissioner to Kenya and concurrently Ambassador to Somalia, strengthening India’s engagement in East Africa.
Prime Minister’s Office (2016–2018): Deputation role in policy coordination.
MEA, New Delhi (2018–2020): Headed the Development Partnership Division, overseeing India’s grant assistance and strategic development cooperation.
India’s Strategic Calculus
India’s decision to send Khampa as its representative reflects a measured diplomatic strategy:
Demonstrating support for peace and stability in Gaza.
Maintaining flexibility by participating as an observer rather than a full member.
Keeping options open as the Board’s scope potentially expands beyond Gaza.
India’s future role will likely depend on how the Board evolves and whether its mandate aligns with New Delhi’s broader foreign policy priorities.
