PM Modi's envoy shakes hands with Trump at Gaza summit in Egypt: 3 messages India delivered

Minister of State Kirti Vardhan met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the Gaza Peace Summit in Egypt after Prime Minister Narendra Modi politely declined Washington’s invitation to attend the meeting held to mark the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

“India welcomes the signing of the landmark Peace Agreement and hopes that this will lead to lasting peace in the region. This is a reflection of India’s longstanding commitment to dialogue & diplomacy,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.  

MoS @KVSinghMPGonda, as special representative of PM @narendramodi, attended the Gaza Peace Summit at Sharm el-Sheikh co-hosted by Presidents @realDonaldTrump and @AlsisiOfficial.

India welcomes the signing of the landmark Peace Agreement and hopes that this will lead to lasting… pic.twitter.com/fjDryavDRZ

— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) October 13, 2025

More from World

PM Modi dials 'friend' President Trump, congratulates him on 'historic Gaza peace plan' Trump hails ties with India, calls PM Modi 'great friend' at Gaza Peace Summit

Meanwhile, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor thinks that sending an MoS in place of PM Modi was a wrong diplomatic move, especially when the summit saw the attendance of heads of state.

He said, “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; but given the galaxy of grandees present, India’s choice could be seen as signalling a preference for strategic distance, which our statements don’t convey.”

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

‘All our neighbours are happy except Pakistan’: Taliban’s Muttaqi on border clashes

Trump tariffs fuel global uncertainty, but markets will adapt: UN trade agency

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…

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) October 13, 2025

However, here are the three messages India sent by sending MoS Vardhan to the summit:

• Not in awe of Trump: PM Modi was invited, but he chose to send EAM Jaishankar’s junior to the Gaza peace summit, knowing fully well that there would be a handshake photo opportunity with the US president, who has been praising the Indian prime minister but criticising India over several unverified trade issues. During his address to world leaders at the summit, Trump called PM Modi his "great friend", an assertion he has made several times in the past

• Pakistan remains out of bounds: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was expected to attend, offering Trump and the Pakistani leader an opportunity for a diplomatic photo-op. This possible diplomatic awkwardness was pre-empted. This is significant against the backdrop of Trump’s repeated claims of settling the India-Pakistan four-day war. In fact, during his brief interaction with Trump, Sharif “thanked” the president for his efforts in resolving Pakistan’s conflict with India, a claim that Potus has been relentlessly making and the one that New Delhi has categorically rejected

• India is agile in geopolitics: The Modi government showed commitment to geopolitical engagement, clearly stating that India is on the side of peace. “India stands for peace in the Middle East and the resolution of issues through dialogue and diplomacy. We support the Gaza peace plan of President Trump and appreciate Egypt and Qatar for their valuable roles in achieving this and advancing the path to peace,” MEA said in a statement