Saudi Arabia and eight other Muslim-majority nations have agreed to participate in the “Board of Peace” initiative proposed by United States President Donald Trump.
In an official joint statement released on Wednesday, Riyadh declared a “shared decision” by the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates to join the new body, which will be chaired by President Trump.
The statement expressed their support for his ongoing “peace efforts” concerning the Gaza conflict.
Subsequently, Kuwait’s foreign ministry announced via social media platform X that the nation had also accepted the invitation to participate.
The formation of this board has drawn significant attention, as invitations were reportedly extended to dozens of global leaders with a request for a $1 billion contribution in exchange for a permanent seat. Saudi announcement made no reference to any financial commitments.
While initially conceived to oversee reconstruction efforts in Gaza, an analysis of the board’s founding charter suggests its envisioned scope extends beyond the Palestinian territory, positioning it as a potential counterpart to established international bodies like the United Nations.
This perceived ambition has reportedly caused consternation among some traditional US allies, including France.
The development also emerges amid a backdrop of regional diplomatic friction, notably between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Both Gulf powers have actively pursued stronger ties with the Trump administration through commitments of substantial investment and commercial agreements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Wednesday that he has accepted an invitation to join the board. However, he has reportedly raised objections to the inclusion of Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi on a subsidiary “Gaza Executive Board” operating under the main body.
France has signalled its intention not to become a member of the initiative.
