Over 20 countries will attend Trump’s Board of Peace meeting on Feb 19: White House
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US President Donald Trump signed documents on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 23 to establish the Board of Peace.
PHOTO: DOUG MILLS/NYTIMES
- President Trump's Board of Peace will announce over US$5 billion pledged by 20+ nations for Gaza reconstruction and stabilisation efforts on Feb 19.
- The UN-endorsed Board of Peace, created Jan 23, aims to rebuild Gaza but its expansion to global conflicts sparks UN competition concerns.
- The US says it "deeply unfortunate" the Vatican decided not to participate, after a spokesperson said efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the United Nations instead.
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump will host a Board of Peace meeting on Feb 19 in Washington, where he will announce that member states have pledged more than US$5 billion (S$6.3 billion) for reconstruction and humanitarian efforts in Gaza, the White House said.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters on Feb 18 that more than 20 countries would participate in the meeting, adding that member states had committed to providing thousands of personnel for an international stabilisation force for Gaza.
Asked about the Vatican’s decision not to participate
Ms Leavitt said Mr Trump would chair the first part of the Feb 19 meeting before departing Washington for a visit to Georgia.
Mr Trump signed documents in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan 23 establishing the Board of Peace.
The board’s creation was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Mr Trump’s Gaza plan.
“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,” Ms Leavitt said. “This is a legitimate organisation where there are tens of member countries from around the world.”
While regional Middle East powers, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as major emerging nations such as Indonesia, have joined the board, global powers and traditional Western US allies have been more cautious.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s top diplomatic official, on Feb 17 said efforts to handle crisis situations should be managed by the UN. Pope Leo, the first US pope and a critic of some of Mr Trump’s policies, was invited to join the board in January.
Under Mr Trump’s Gaza plan, which led to a fragile ceasefire last October, the board was meant to supervise Gaza’s temporary governance. But he later said the board, with him as chair, would expand to tackle global conflicts.
That has stirred concerns that the Board of Peace might try to resolve other conflicts around the world and compete with the UN.
The Feb 19 meeting is expected to focus solely on Gaza. REUTERS
