The Trump administration will host the inaugural meeting of the “Board of Peace” in Washington today, the first official gathering of the multinational organization tasked with resolving global conflicts, even as it faces lingering questions about its broader mission.
The meeting is being held at the US Institute of Peace, which the State Department has renamed for President Donald Trump.
Originally conceived as a body to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza following the devastation of the Israel-Hamas war, the Board of Peace since then has seen its mission broadened. A draft charter circulated with invitations omits any direct reference to Gaza, instead outlining a global mandate to address conflicts worldwide. The board, chaired by Trump, has already drawn skepticism about its purpose and whether it could rival or supplant the United Nations.
Israel formally signed the charter earlier this month, but many of America’s European allies have declined to join.
Today’s meeting, which will also serve as a fundraiser, follows the US announcement of the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire plan and the formation of a new committee to run the enclave.
Trump said Sunday that the board “will announce that Member States have pledged more than $5 BILLION DOLLARS toward the Gaza Humanitarian and Reconstruction efforts and have committed thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and Local Police to maintain Security and Peace for Gazans.”
Trump is seeking to rally international support for reconstruction and security efforts. But one of the thorniest parts of the Trump administration’s peace plan – the demilitarization of Hamas – has not yet been resolved.
More than 20 countries — including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Turkey and several Asian and Latin American nations — are expected to attend today’s meeting. It is unclear which countries will make the steep fiscal commitment of $1 billion to become permanent members.
There have been no public final commitments from governments to send troops to serve as part of the International Stabilization Force (ISF) — a key part of Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan.
Read more about today’s meeting.
