- Initiative draws strong participation from Middle East and Asia, while several Western allies opt to stay out or attend only as observers

WASHINGTON

US President Donald Trump will convene the inaugural meeting of his newly established Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, bringing together representatives from more than 20 countries to discuss Gaza’s reconstruction and broader international stabilization efforts.

The meeting, hosted at the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace, marks the first formal gathering of the board since its creation earlier this year and comes amid efforts to shape governance and security arrangements for Gaza after two years of Israel’s devastating war.

While the White House has described the Board of Peace as a legitimate international body with growing global support, the initiative has drawn skepticism from several Western allies, some of whom have declined to participate or chosen to attend only as observers.

What is the Board of Peace?

The Board of Peace is a new international body launched by Trump as part of his administration’s strategy to oversee ceasefire implementation, reconstruction and long-term stability in Gaza.

The initiative was formally established in January, when its founding charter was ratified at a ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Trump and representatives of founding member states signed the agreement, giving the board an institutional structure and a broad mandate.

Under its charter, Trump serves as chair, and the board is empowered not only to coordinate Gaza’s reconstruction but also to engage in peace-building efforts in regions affected by or at risk of conflict. That expanded scope has fueled criticism from analysts who argue the body could encroach on the role of the UN.

Currently, 27 countries are designated as founding members: Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Albania, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Egypt, El Salvador, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

Several major Western powers, however, have declined to join, citing concerns over the board’s charter and governance.

What will be discussed?

The inaugural meeting is expected to focus primarily on Gaza’s reconstruction and stabilization following months of Israeli military assault that have reduced much of the enclave to rubble.

The UN has estimated that reconstruction could cost as much as $70 billion, with humanitarian needs continuing to rise amid widespread displacement, infrastructure destruction and economic collapse.

The White House said Trump would announce that member states have pledged more than $5 billion toward humanitarian relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza. Trump has also said that participating countries have committed thousands of personnel to an international stabilization force and local policing arrangements aimed at maintaining security.

“The president has a very bold and ambitious plan and vision to rebuild and reconstruct Gaza, which is well under way because of the Board of Peace,” White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told reporters.

She described the board as “a legitimate organization” with “tens of member countries from around the world.”

The stabilization force, first outlined in the Trump administration’s broader Gaza peace plan last year, envisions a phased ceasefire, disarmament of Hamas and the establishment of a technocratic governance structure during a transitional period.

Who is attending?

The attendance list highlights shifting diplomatic alignments, with strong participation from the Middle East, Central Asia and parts of Asia, while Western Europe remains largely on the sidelines.

Leavitt said more than 20 countries would take part in the meeting, represented by heads of state or senior government officials. Some countries, including Italy, are attending as observers rather than full members.

The EU has declined to join the initiative but is sending Dubravka Suica, the European commissioner for the Mediterranean, to Washington to attend the portion of the meeting dedicated to Gaza.

The Vatican has also opted out. Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin said there were “points that leave us somewhat perplexed,” adding that several critical issues would need to be resolved before participation could be considered. Leavitt described the Vatican’s decision as “deeply unfortunate.”