Shehbaz Sharif’s Backseat, Fewer Than 20 Countries: Trump’s Gaza ‘Board Of Peace’ Takes Off

Last Updated:January 22, 2026, 16:32 IST

Trump had first announced the formation of the ‘Board of Peace’ on January 15, 2026, as part of Phase Two of his 20-point plan to end the Gaza conflict.

In letters sent to prospective members, Trump described it as a “bold new approach to resolving global conflict”.

US President Donald Trump formally announced the first charter of his international ‘Board of Peace’ at the World Economic Forum in Davos but the launch drew attention as much for how it looked as for what it promised. At the signing ceremony, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was not seated prominently, a detail that did not go unnoticed in an otherwise carefully staged event. What also stood out was the initiative’s limited reach so far, with fewer than 20 countries taking part.

Trump described the ‘Board of Peace’ as a new international body meant to resolve global conflicts, with permanent membership reportedly costing $1 billion. The idea was first floated as a mechanism to oversee reconstruction and governance in Gaza after the Israel-Palestine war, before being broadened into a wider conflict-resolution platform.

In his opening remarks, Trump said that “everybody wants to be a part of the Board of Peace" and added that the United States would continue to work “with many others, including the United Nations."

The Davos event was attended by presidents, prime ministers and senior diplomats from just over a dozen countries. Those present included Argentina President Javier Milei, Indonesia President Prabowo Subianto, Paraguay President Santiago Peña, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev. Despite Pakistan being mentioned among countries engaging with the initiative, Shehbaz Sharif’s absence from the front row reinforced perceptions of uneven diplomatic weight within the grouping.

Speaking about Gaza, Trump said the war was “really coming to an end" while cautioning that “little fires" still needed to be put out. He warned that Hamas must disarm or face elimination and said the group must return the final body of an Israeli hostage.

“They have to give up their weapons, and if they don’t do that, it’s going to be the end of them," Trump said, adding that Hamas members were “born with rifles in their hands."

Trump had first announced the formation of the ‘Board of Peace’ on January 15, 2026, as part of Phase Two of his 20-point plan to end the Gaza conflict. Following that announcement, his administration reached out to several global leaders to serve as founding members of the board and related bodies tasked with governance and reconstruction in post-war Gaza. While some countries agreed to participate, others declined, citing diplomatic and policy reasons.

According to the White House, the board will focus on governance capacity-building, regional relations, reconstruction, investment attraction, and large-scale funding and capital mobilisation. In letters sent to prospective members, Trump described it as a “bold new approach to resolving global conflict" and “the most impressive and consequential board ever assembled."

News world Shehbaz Sharif’s Backseat, Fewer Than 20 Countries: Trump’s Gaza ‘Board Of Peace’ Takes Off

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