Eric's Insight: Should India join the US-proposed ‘board of peace’?

US President Donald Trump (left) and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Judging from the past experiences, the international actors have little confidence in the U.S.-led initiative. Over the past two plus years, the US has unilaterally vetoed most of the Gaza peace deals that were approved by the overwhelming majority of the UN member states.

The US is not peace-loving in nature, because it continued aiding Israel in bombing Gaza. The peace initiative is not actually for Gaza people, and it is solely for the national interests of the US, which is well-known for the America First policy. The initiative is not trustworthy.

By inviting India to join the ‘peace of board’, the US aims to make use of the Indian influence as a global power, the most populous country in the world, and a strategic counterbalance against China. Observers have pointed out the US just wants to use the new board to replace the UN security council and maintain its hegemony.

India has been valuing its strategic autonomy as a major player in international politics, and it has been endorsing the Two-State Solution in solving the Palestine-Israel conflict. If New Delhi accepts the invitation, the Indian partners in the Middle East will be disappointed politically.

Economically, there is no guarantee that the US initiative will bring benefit to India. The invitation comes at a sensitive moment, as India-U.S. relations face strain due to stalled trade talks and steep American tariffs on Indian exports.

The US tariffs on Indian exports were shocking because they were totally unexpected. India has been a member of the Quad military drill that also involves the US, Japan and Australia, and Indians just thought it impossible for the US to impose tariff on India. It is unlikely that the US would cancel its tariffs if India accept its invitation and join the initiative in question.

Writing by Wang Shixue (The article represents the authors' personal views and does not necessarily reflect the stance of Mekong News Network, YICC.)