Trump launches ‘Board of Peace’ at Davos, Pakistan among signatories

DAVOS: US President Donald Trump on Thursday formally launched his new “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with world leaders — including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif — signing the founding charter aimed at pursuing a lasting peace agreement for Gaza.

Leaders and senior officials from 19 countries gathered on stage during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the WEF annual meeting, where Trump, as chairman of the Board of Peace, became the first to sign the charter. Pakistan had earlier received an invitation from Trump to join the board, which Islamabad accepted.

Addressing the gathering, Trump said the group included “in most cases very popular leaders, some cases not so popular,” adding, “that’s the way it goes in life.”

The Board of Peace was initially conceived to oversee peace and reconstruction efforts in Gaza following the war between Israel and Hamas. However, its charter outlines a broader mandate to help resolve international conflicts, raising concerns among observers that it could evolve into a rival to the United Nations. Trump rejected that notion, saying the board would work “in conjunction” with the UN.

The initiative has also drawn controversy over its proposed membership. Trump confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited to join, saying Putin had agreed, though Moscow said the invitation was still under review. Permanent membership requires a $1 billion contribution, prompting criticism that the board could become a “pay-to-play” alternative to the UN Security Council.

Key US allies, including Britain and France, declined to take part in the ceremony, with London saying it would not attend. Those who signed largely included leaders with close ties to Trump or countries seeking to demonstrate alignment with Washington.

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Besides Pakistan, officials from Argentina, Hungary, Bahrain, Morocco, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Mongolia signed the charter.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will join the board but was not present at the ceremony. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the board’s primary focus was to ensure that the Gaza peace deal becomes enduring.

Trump warned that under the next phase of the ceasefire agreement, Hamas must disarm or face severe consequences, saying otherwise it would be “the end of them.”

The launch of the board comes amid Trump’s long-standing frustration over failing to secure the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his repeated claims of having ended multiple global conflicts.