1. What is the Board of Peace and what will it do?
The Board of Peace is a new organization launched by President Trump to oversee implementation of the U.S.-backed Gaza ceasefire agreement and settle international conflicts, particularly where the United Nations or other entities fail. Its primary mission is to rebuild Gaza after the Israeli operation against Hamas following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, with plans including housing, medical facilities, coastal tourism, transportation infrastructure, and energy development.
2. Which countries have agreed to join the board?
Twenty countries signed the charter at the World Economic Forum in Davos: Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also announced his intention to join, and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed potentially using frozen Russian assets to pay the $1 billion membership fee for a permanent seat.
3. Why are some Western allies hesitant to participate?
Several Western allies, including France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, and Belgium, have expressed reservations or refused to join outright, worrying the board will upset the established international order that flows through the United Nations or that it has an ill-defined mission. Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister clarified his country has not signed the charter and wants a common, coordinated European response, while Canada and the U.K. have not signaled their plans.
SEE ALSO: WATCH: Trump launches Board of Peace to oversee Gaza ceasefire and settle global conflicts
4. How does Mr. Trump characterize the board’s relationship with the United Nations?
Mr. Trump downplayed a rift between the board and the U.N., saying the United Nations has “tremendous potential” but hasn’t used it, and that the entities could be complementary. He suggested that “the combination of the Board of Peace, with the kind of people we have here, coupled with the United Nations, can be something really unique for the world.”
5. What other conflicts is Mr. Trump claiming progress on through this initiative?
Mr. Trump said he’s working on ending the Russia-Ukraine war and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of Davos. He also referenced efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, saying “Iran does want to talk, and we’ll talk.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested the Gaza plans serve “as an example of what’s possible in other parts of the world” and other conflicts that seem impossible to solve.
Read more: Trump launches Board of Peace to oversee Gaza ceasefire
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