US President Donald Trump on Thursday opened the first meeting of his newly created “Board of Peace,” announcing a $10 billion US pledge aimed at consolidating progress in Gaza while outlining broader, but vague, ambitions to reshape international conflict management.
Speaking in Washington before representatives from nearly 50 countries, Trump said nine member states had committed more than $7 billion toward a relief package for the war-battered Gaza Strip. He did not provide specifics on how the US funds would be allocated, nor did he detail governance mechanisms for the new body.
Five countries — Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo and Albania — have committed troops to a proposed International Stabilization Force (ISF) for Gaza, according to the force’s commander. Egypt and Jordan have pledged to train a new Palestinian police force, with around 2,000 applicants already signed up, officials said.
Indonesia, the world’s largest Muslim-majority country, has offered to send up to 8,000 troops and take a deputy commander role in the force, which aims to eventually deploy 20,000 soldiers and train 12,000 police. The ISF would begin operations in southern Gaza’s Rafah before expanding sector by sector.
Despite the pledges, analysts questioned the scope and structure of the initiative. Some traditional US allies, including France and Germany, attended as observers or stayed away, while several leaders seen as close to Trump — including Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Argentina’s Javier Milei — were present.
“It remains unclear what he’s trying to achieve,” said one international affairs analyst, noting the absence of a detailed reconstruction plan for Gaza.
Iran tensions mount amid military buildup
The meeting unfolded against the backdrop of a major US military buildup in the Middle East that has heightened fears of a wider regional conflict with Iran.
Trump warned Tehran to reach what he called a “meaningful” agreement over its nuclear programme within days or face unspecified consequences. The US has deployed 13 warships and a large fleet of aircraft to the region, with a second aircraft carrier en route.
While Trump said negotiations with Iran were progressing, his remarks and the growing military presence have fuelled concerns that the Board of Peace initiative could be overshadowed by the prospect of another confrontation in the region.
