U.S. President Donald Trump announced the establishment of the “Board of Peace” on the international platform on Thursday, with an increasing number of countries showing interest in participating in the initial focus on rebuilding Gaza. By Thursday morning, approximately 35 countries, including key Middle East players like Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, had expressed their intention to join the board. However, traditional allies of the United States, such as European nations and Canada, have been hesitant to commit to the initiative and its associated membership costs.
Later in the day, President Trump revealed that he had rescinded Canada’s invitation to join the board. In order to secure a permanent seat on the board, which is expected to be chaired by Trump indefinitely, countries will need to contribute at least $1 billion US, as per a preliminary draft. Other member states will serve three-year terms.
A White House official mentioned that around 50 countries had been formally invited to participate, although responses from several nations are still pending. The final list of countries signing up for the board remains to be determined, showing a mix of acceptances, refusals, and undecided positions.
Countries like the United Arab Emirates, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Vietnam were among the first to publicly announce their membership in the board. Conversely, France declined the offer on Thursday, citing discrepancies between the board’s charter and a United Nations resolution aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict. Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob also turned down the invitation, expressing concerns that the board could disrupt the global order.
Meanwhile, Moscow is contemplating joining the board, with Russian President Vladimir Putin suggesting sending $1 billion US from frozen Russian assets in the U.S. to support the initiative. At a signing event held in Davos, Switzerland, Trump emphasized his real estate background and referred to Gaza as a valuable piece of property, indicating his belief that the peace efforts between Israel and Hamas stemmed from the geographical location.
The ceremony coincided with ongoing deadly Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, despite a ceasefire agreement brokered by the U.S. on October 10. Trump has expanded the ceasefire agreement into a broader initiative aimed at resolving conflicts worldwide, prompting cautious responses from some nations due to limited information about the initiative’s future objectives.