Trump Presides Over Inaugural "Board of Peace" Meeting in Washington
President Donald Trump convened the first official summit of the Board of Peace on February 19, 2026, at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. Designed as a personalized international body to oversee the post-war reconstruction of Gaza, the meeting brought together officials from approximately 40 countries, including 27 formal member states.
Key outcomes included:
* Funding: Member nations pledged a combined $7 billion for a Gaza relief package, added to a $10 billion commitment from the United States.
* Security: Five countries—Albania, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Morocco—agreed to deploy troops for an International Stabilization Force (ISF).
* Absences: The Vatican officially declined its invitation, with Cardinal Pietro Parolin citing "perplexing" points and a preference for UN-led crisis management. Major European allies also remained on the sidelines.
While Trump hailed the board as a "new and harmonious" path for the Middle East, critics expressed concerns over its "one-man show" structure and its potential to sideline the United Nations.
