DAVOS (Dunya News/AFP) – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif joined other world leaders on Thursday in signing the founding charter for the “Board of Peace,” a new international body chaired by US President Donald Trump.
The ceremony took place at the 56th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, with representatives from 19 countries present to endorse the initiative.
Originally designed to oversee stability in Gaza following Israel’s two-year war on the enclave, the board’s charter now envisions a wider mandate to resolve international conflicts. Pakistan accepted Trump’s invitation to join on Wednesday, signalling support for the platform, with country’s top military commander Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also attending the signing ceremony.
Board of Peace
Trump, who serves as chairman, addressed the assembly, describing the attendees as “in most cases very popular leaders, in some cases not so popular. That’s the way it goes in life.” He emphasised that the board would work “in conjunction” with the United Nations, countering criticisms that it aims to rival the UN.
Leaders and senior officials from Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Morocco, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the UAE, and Uzbekistan signed the charter alongside Trump. Permanent members are required to pay $1 billion to join, drawing criticism that the board could become a “pay to play” version of the UN Security Council.
What is Trump's 'Board of Peace' and who has joined so far?
Key global powers expressed scepticism. France declined to join, Britain stated it would not attend at present, and China has yet to comment. Russian President Vladimir Putin, invited by Trump, said he was still reviewing the proposal, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s participation but did not attend.
Trump’s invitation of these leaders, some facing international scrutiny, has provoked debate over the board’s composition. He insisted, however, that “every country wants to be a part of it” and described the assembly as “stars… when you use that inspired genius for peace, the opposite of peace has no chance.”
Gaza as priority
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted that the board’s immediate focus is ensuring a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. Trump stressed that Hamas must disarm under the next phase of the truce agreement, warning that failure to comply would signal “the end of them.”
Jared Kushner, US presidential adviser and architect of the Gaza plan, explained that reconstruction funding and demilitarisation by Hamas are key objectives. Ali Shaath, appointed to oversee Gaza’s administration under a 15-member technocratic committee, announced that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt would reopen in both directions next week. He called it a “lifeline and symbol of opportunity” for Palestinians.
Trump noted that Phase 1 of the ceasefire had delivered record levels of humanitarian aid and returned 20 Israeli captives, asserting that the “first steps toward a brighter day for the Middle East” were underway. He suggested the combination of the Board of Peace and the UN could be “very, very unique for the world.”
The board’s broader ambitions extend beyond Gaza. Trump claimed Iran seeks talks with the US, following June 2025 US strikes on Iranian uranium enrichment sites. Meanwhile, the inclusion of Putin has raised concerns amid ongoing negotiations to end the nearly four-year-long war in Ukraine. Trump met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos, while Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will travel to Moscow for talks with Putin.
Zelensky has voiced fears that Trump’s push to seize Greenland — which has dominated Davos so far and threatened to unravel the transatlantic alliance — could divert focus away from Russia’s invasion of his country.
The launch of the board comes against the backdrop of Trump's frustration at having failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his disputed claim to have ended eight conflicts.