Davos (Switzerland): Donald Trump on Thursday unveiled his Gaza-focused ‘Board of Peace’ with the support of 35 countries at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland’s Davos.
The US President presided over a high-profile signing ceremony, which was attended by several world leaders and senior diplomats.
Trump was joined at the signing table by leaders from Bahrain and Morocco, while other leaders walked up in pairs to add their signatures. Among the countries which have committed to the board are Azerbaijan, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina, Indonesia and Pakistan, while Russia is considering Trump’s offer to join.
India had received an invitation to join the board, but there has been no word on whether it would accept or reject the offer. No Indian leader or diplomat was present at the signing ceremony, underlining New Delhi’s cautious approach.
Sergio Gor, the US ambassador to New Delhi, shared on X a White House statement saying that Trump had invited India to join the initiative, but India joined France, the United Kingdom, China and Germany in skipping the event.
Pakistan’s eagerness to be part of the US-headed board was evident as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the ceremony.
The Board of Peace was initially designed as a move to ensure stabilisation of Gaza’s fragile ceasefire by overseeing enforcement, reconstruction and security coordination. However, Trump said he sees the board taking on a broader global role.
Trump warned Hamas in case it fails to give up weapons in two-three weeks, there would be swift military action.
“If Hamas doesn’t agree to give up weapons, they’re going to be blown away… We would know over the next two or three days, certainly over the next three weeks,” Trump said.
Announcing himself as the inaugural chairman of the board, Trump said: “It has the potential to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created… Just about every country wants to be a part of it.”
Trump rejected suggestions that the board was designed to replace the United Nations. “Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do, and we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,” Trump said.
He added that the UN had “tremendous potential” which had not been fully utilised.
