Sharif’s praise for Trump steals the spotlight at Sharm El-Sheikh
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif used the Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit for Gaza to channel high-level praise toward former U.S. President Donald Trump, claiming that Trump played a crucial role in “stopping a war” between India and Pakistan. Speaking from the stage in Egypt, Sharif called Trump “genuinely a man of peace” and reiterated his long-running appeal to award the Nobel Peace Prize to the former president for his alleged contributions to a ceasefire in South Asia and to the Gaza truce.
Trump’s reaction and the optics of cross-border diplomacy
Trump, invited by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to address the gathering, returned to the dais after Sharif’s remarks and described the former Pakistani premier’s words as “beautiful,” joking that there was nothing left to say: “Let’s go home!” The exchange underscored a moment of warmth between two leaders who have repeatedly found common ground on the Gaza conflict and regional peace rhetoric. Trump’s remarks at the summit and on the way to the Middle East again raised questions about the force of personal diplomacy in a region already fragile from conflict.
India’s stance: Tharoor’s critique of Modi’s delegation
Within India, voices were mixed. Congress MP and former diplomat Shashi Tharoor suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government may have missed an opportunity by sending only a Minister of State, Kirti Vardhan Singh, to the summit. Tharoor clarified that his critique did not question Singh’s ability, but he argued that the absence of a senior minister could signal a strategic distance in a high-profile regional peace forum. “Strategic restraint or missed opportunity?” he commented on X, adding that India’s relative absence among global grandees could affect its weight in such conversations.
Modi’s official stance and the Gaza ceasefire
Prime Minister Modi, who was invited but elected to depute the Minister of State for External Affairs, welcomed the Gaza ceasefire in a post on X. Modi credited the release of hostages and the ongoing peace efforts to a combination of international diplomacy, including Trump’s efforts and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s hardline posture against violence. India’s official messaging underlines an emphasis on dialogue and stability in the region, while balancing its own strategic interests in South Asia and beyond.
Summit context and regional diplomacy
The Sharm El-Sheikh Peace Summit gathers leaders from around the world to discuss Gaza and broader Middle East peace. Attendees include monarchs, presidents, and prime ministers from dozens of countries, with the objective of backing a truce, stabilizing regional security, and reconfiguring alliances in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape. The event comes amid a fresh ceasefire in Gaza and ongoing humanitarian concerns, including a large displacement crisis and continued casualties.
What the episode signals for future diplomacy
The episode featuring Sharif’s praise for Trump and Tharoor’s critique of Modi’s delegation reflects the wider dynamics of international diplomacy: personal rapport among leaders can shape perceptions of peace efforts, while the visibility of senior leaders at such forums can influence a country’s diplomatic leverage. As regional actors weigh their options, the effectiveness of high-profile summits will continue to hinge on concrete actions, credible mediation, and sustained commitment to ceasefires and humanitarian protections.
