The Peace Summit convened in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, on October 13, 2025, aimed at stabilizing the volatile situation in the Middle East and cementing the recently established ceasefire in Gaza. India was represented at this high-level forum by Kirti Vardhan Singh, the Minister of State for External Affairs, who traveled on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi's inability to attend personally stemmed from the extremely tight organizational timeline of the event, underscoring the suddenness and critical nature of the moment that demanded an immediate global response.
The summit was jointly chaired by US President Donald Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, drawing together delegates from more than twenty nations, including European Council President António Costa, who represented the European Union. The central objective was to halt the ongoing hostilities in Gaza and transition toward a new phase of ensuring regional security. Notably, this marked the first meeting between an Indian Minister and the US President at such a senior level since the initiation of “Operation Sindoor,” which India launched in May 2025 following the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 individuals.
During the intense negotiations, Minister Singh held separate, crucial meetings with the leaders of the United States and Egypt. He reiterated New Delhi’s unwavering commitment to pursuing a peaceful resolution in the Middle East. Singh stressed that enduring stability could only be achieved through open dialogue and comprehensive cooperation among all involved parties. The most tangible practical outcome of the summit was the release of twenty Israeli hostages by Hamas, a direct consequence of a deal brokered with US mediation. President Trump hailed the day as “incredible for the whole world and the Middle East,” noting that the agreement established “rules and provisions” for subsequent actions, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declining to participate in the signing ceremony.
As a significant player within the Global South, India demonstrated its capacity for constructive engagement in complex crisis scenarios demanding a broad coalition. The presence of the Indian representative at this pivotal event, which followed a period of heightened tensions with Pakistan, signaled Delhi's clear ambition to solidify its role in shaping the new architecture of regional stability. The Sharm el-Sheikh Summit addressed the necessity of a two-state solution, a path President El-Sisi emphatically declared was the sole route to sustainable peace, thus serving as a catalyst for fundamentally rethinking the region's future trajectory.
Kirti Vardhan Singh, who has served as a Member of Parliament for Gonda since 1998 and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2014, also holds the portfolio of Minister of State for Environment and Forests. His participation in a security-focused summit aligns with the broader global emphasis on sustainable development, which remains an integral part of the international agenda even amidst acute confrontation. This event powerfully illustrates that even when the world teeters on the brink of escalation, opportunities for constructive dialogue and finding common ground always remain accessible.