DAVOS, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump kicked off his so-called ‘Board of Peace’ here on Thursday, with world leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, signing on “to pursue a lasting agreement for Gaza”.
A group of leaders and senior officials from 19 countries — including Trump allies from Argentina and Hungary — gathered on stage with the US president to put their names to the founding charter of the body, said an AFP report.
However, a CNN report said the signing ceremony was attended by fewer than 20 countries. Trump said he wants the board, tasked with rebuilding Gaza and resolving global conflicts, to work with the United Nations, even as he criticised the UN for failing to live up to its potential.
Trump was the first to sign the charter who later witnessed the ceremony held on the sidelines of the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF).
Pakistan had received the invitation from President Trump to join the Board, which was later accepted.
Trump — who is the chairman of the Board of Peace — said they were “in most cases very popular leaders, some cases not so popular. That’s the way it goes in life.”
Originally meant to oversee peace in Gaza after the Israeli attacks on the territory, the board’s charter envisions a wider role in resolving international conflicts, sparking concerns that Trump wants it to rival the United Nations. Trump, however, said the organisation would work “in conjunction” with the UN.
The Board of Peace’s potential membership has, however, proved controversial, with Trump having invited Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine four years ago. Trump said Putin had agreed to join, while the Russian leader said he was still studying the invitation.
Permanent members must also pay $1 billion to join, leading to criticisms that the board could become a “pay to play” version of the UN Security Council.
Key US allies, including France and Britain, have expressed scepticism, with the UK saying Thursday it would not attend the ceremony.
The members on stage largely held close ties to Trump, including Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Argentina’s Javier Milei, or a wish to show their allegiance to the US president.
Officials from Bahrain, Morocco, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Mongolia also signed the document with Trump.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over the war in Gaza, has said he will join but was not at the ceremony.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the ceremony that the board’s focus was “first and foremost on making sure that this peace deal in Gaza becomes enduring.”
Trump, however, said Hamas must disarm under the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire accord, or it will be the “end of them”.
The launch of the board comes against the backdrop of Trump’s frustration at having failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his disputed claim to have ended eight conflicts.
Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the ceremony. At the event, Pakistan’s political and military leadership became the centre of attention for global leaders.
President Donald Trump specially pointed towards Field Marshal Asim Munir and welcomed him with a smile.
PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir held informal and pleasant meetings with world leaders as well. They met President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud. They also attended the address of US President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum.
