Trump announces formation of ‘Board of Peace’

US President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, saying the body will initially focus on enforcing a ceasefire in Gaza but may later play a role in resolving global crises.

Speaking at a formal ceremony, Trump said he would serve as the chair of the board. He added that once the board is fully formed, it would be able to take initiatives as required. He also said the board intends to work with the United Nations, noting that the UN’s potential has not yet been fully utilised.

World leaders have been invited to join the board, though countries seeking permanent membership would be required to contribute USD 1 billion each to a dedicated fund. This condition has reportedly made several major powers and traditional US allies cautious.

According to Reuters, representatives from a number of countries attended the inaugural event, but no delegates from key US allies or from Israel and the Palestinian Authority were present.

Around 35 countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Belarus and Hungary, have pledged to join the board. Israel and Hungary have also expressed interest.

Among the permanent members of the UN Security Council, France and the United Kingdom have declined to take part directly, while Russia said it is reviewing the proposal. China has not issued any official response.

As part of Trump’s Gaza peace initiative, a UN Security Council resolution expressed support for the board. However, UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez said on Thursday that the UN would engage with the board only in relation to Gaza peace talks, declining to comment on involvement in its other activities.