United States President Donald Trump has garnered support from Egypt and a coalition of Gulf and Muslim-majority countries for a new US-directed "Board of Peace." This initiative is intended to advance a peace framework concerning Gaza.
During the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Trump engaged in discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el Sisi on Wednesday. Their talks encompassed various regional matters, including efforts to mediate the long-standing dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, alongside the proposed Board of Peace for a Gaza peace accord.
Subsequently, Egypt's foreign ministry confirmed on Wednesday that President el Sisi had accepted President Trump's invitation to become a member of this body.
The ministry issued a statement noting, "Egypt declares its acceptance of the invitation and its commitment to fulfilling the requisite legal and constitutional procedures," while also commending President Trump's Middle East policies.
"Egypt affirms its backing for the Board of Peace's objective concerning the second phase of the comprehensive strategy to resolve the conflict in Gaza," the statement further elaborated.
Saudi Arabia and a number of other Muslim-majority nations have also voiced their endorsement for the initiative. The Saudi foreign ministry announced that Riyadh, along with seven other countries, had agreed to participate in President Trump's Board of Peace.
In a joint declaration, Saudi Arabia announced the "mutual decision" by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates to be part of the body, which will be presided over by President Trump. The ministers conveyed their support for his "peace efforts" pertinent to the Gaza conflict.
Reports indicated that invitations were extended to numerous world leaders, requesting $1 billion for a permanent seat on the board, although the Saudi statement did not mention any financial commitments.
Initially presented as a mechanism to oversee Gaza's reconstruction, the board's charter does not appear to restrict its scope solely to that territory. Instead, it is conceptualized as a broader peace organization that could potentially rival the United Nations, a development that has met with criticism from some US allies, including France.
This progression unfolds amidst heightened regional tensions, including strains between the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, both of which have pursued closer relations with the Trump administration through investment offers and business agreements.
France has indicated its decision not to join the initiative. However, the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed his acceptance of an invitation to participate.
Despite this, Prime Minister Netanyahu has registered objections concerning the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al Thawadi on a proposed "Gaza Executive Board" that would operate under the larger Board of Peace.
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