Shashi Tharoor Questions India's Representation at Gaza Peace Summit: “Strategic Distance or Missed Opportunity?”

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has raised concerns over India’s level of representation at the Gaza Peace Conference, which began on Monday in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. The summit, aimed at building a global consensus on a ceasefire and reconstruction framework for Gaza, is being attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh on behalf of India.

Tharoor questioned whether India’s participation through a Minister of State, instead of a higher-level representative, signals “strategic restraint” or a “missed diplomatic opportunity.”

The high-profile conference is being attended by several world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and heads of state from Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Qatar, and Jordan.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Tharoor wrote, “India’s presence at the Sharm el-Sheikh Gaza peace summit, at the level of a Minister of State, stands in stark contrast to the heads of state gathered there. Strategic restraint or missed opportunity? This is no reflection on Kirti Vardhan Singh, whose competence is not in question.”

He further added that India’s low-level representation could diminish its voice and influence on key global issues. “It’s not a question of individual competence, but of message,” Tharoor stated, pointing out that with so many heads of state and prime ministers present, such limited participation could impact India’s diplomatic visibility.

Tharoor, himself a former Minister of State for External Affairs, also noted that this decision could be perceived as India maintaining a strategic distance from the Gaza conflict, even though official statements have not suggested any such stance.

The move has triggered debate within diplomatic circles over whether India is consciously maintaining a neutral distance from the issue or whether the decision was purely guided by protocol and practical considerations.