Greece to join Trump’s Board of Peace meeting as observer

Greece will participate as an observer in the upcoming Board of Peace meeting focused on Gaza, scheduled to take place in Washington, DC on Thursday. Deputy Foreign Minister Harry Theoharis will represent the country at the diplomatic gathering convened by the Trump administration.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be unable to attend the Board of Peace meeting due to a previously scheduled visit to India. The decision to send the deputy foreign minister underscores Greece’s interest in regional peace efforts while managing competing diplomatic commitments.

Regional Participation in Gaza Peace Initiative

Greece’s involvement in the Board of Peace meeting reflects the country’s growing engagement with Middle Eastern diplomatic efforts. Cyprus announced on Saturday that it would also attend the same gathering as an observer, indicating coordinated interest from Eastern Mediterranean nations in the Gaza situation.

The observer status granted to both Greece and Cyprus suggests the meeting will include a core group of primary participants alongside interested regional stakeholders. However, authorities have not confirmed the full list of attending nations or the specific agenda items to be discussed during the session.

Strategic Implications for Greece

Greece’s participation in the Board of Peace meeting aligns with its broader foreign policy objectives in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The country has historically maintained diplomatic relationships with multiple parties in the Middle East, positioning itself as a potential mediator or facilitator in regional conflicts.

Additionally, Greece’s geographic proximity to the Middle East and its role within the European Union make its perspective relevant to Gaza-related discussions. The decision to attend as an observer rather than a full participant allows Greece to remain informed while maintaining diplomatic flexibility.

Deputy Foreign Minister’s Role

Harry Theoharis, who will represent Greece at the Washington meeting, serves as Deputy Foreign Minister with responsibilities that include regional diplomatic initiatives. His attendance indicates that Greece views the Board of Peace meeting as significant enough to warrant ministerial-level representation despite the observer status.

Meanwhile, the timing of Prime Minister Mitsotakis’s India visit highlights the balancing act faced by Greek diplomacy as it manages relationships across multiple regions. The government evidently determined that maintaining the India schedule while sending high-level representation to Washington served Greece’s interests optimally.

Context of Peace Efforts

The Board of Peace meeting represents part of broader international efforts to address the ongoing Gaza crisis. Various nations and international organizations have sought to facilitate dialogue and potential solutions to the humanitarian and political challenges in the region.

In contrast to previous initiatives, the Trump administration’s approach to convening this particular meeting brings a different diplomatic framework to Gaza-related discussions. The inclusion of observer nations from the Eastern Mediterranean suggests an effort to incorporate regional perspectives into the peace process.

Cyprus’s parallel decision to attend reinforces the Eastern Mediterranean dimension of the gathering. Both Cyprus and Greece maintain complex relationships with various Middle Eastern actors, potentially offering unique insights during the discussions.

The outcome of Thursday’s Board of Peace meeting remains uncertain, with no advance details released regarding expected agreements or joint statements. Observers will be watching to see whether the gathering produces concrete initiatives or serves primarily as a consultative forum for future diplomatic efforts.