• Trump convenes inaugural Board of Peace meeting with over 40 nations, pledging $5 billion toward Gaza's $70 billion reconstruction needs.
  • The initiative, unveiled at Davos in January 2026, signals a shift toward U.S.-centric multilateralism, bypassing traditional bodies like the UN amid withdrawals.
  • European leaders face pressure on trade and migration policies as the U.S. positions itself as the global "economic engine" under Trump's "America First" approach.

In a move that reshapes international diplomacy, President Donald Trump's newly formed Board of Peace held its first meeting on February 19 in Washington, D.C., drawing representatives from more than 40 countries and focusing heavily on Gaza reconstruction efforts. The gathering, chaired by Trump himself, saw members pledge an initial $5 billion toward a staggering $70 billion need for rebuilding the region, contingent on Hamas disarmament following the October 2025 Israel-Hamas ceasefire that returned all hostages. According to people familiar with the matter, the meeting also explored deploying an international stabilization force, though details remain fluid as negotiations continue.

This development stems directly from Trump's assertive stance at the World Economic Forum in Davos last month, where he warned European leaders against "playing cute" with weak policies on trade, migration, and security. In his speech, he positioned the U.S. as the world's "economic engine," urging allies to prioritize growth over imports and migration to boost global prosperity, while criticizing Biden-era strategies as causing stagnation. The Board of Peace, launched as an alternative to traditional multilateral bodies like the UN, reflects his broader "America First" agenda in Trump 2.0, emphasizing U.S. dominance and a departure from past globalist approaches.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, and former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair were among the speakers at the February 19 meeting, which included members from the Middle East (such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel), Europe (e.g., Hungary), Asia (e.g., Indonesia and Pakistan), and Latin America. Just days prior, on February 17, UK Prime Minister discussed Ukraine peace, Gaza aid, and Iran nuclear talks with Trump, affirming allied cooperation and an anti-Iran stance, according to sources briefed on the call. Efforts to reach the White House for additional comment were not immediately returned.

The Board's selective membership—notably lacking heavyweights like China and France at launch—has drawn mixed reactions. The White House hails it as "the most consequential" international body, while critics, including Brookings Institution analysts, warn it risks eroding world order and liberal restraint by undermining UN prohibitions on force-based territorial gains. This ties into broader U.S. actions, such as the recent Caracas raid and pressures on Denmark over Greenland, signaling unrestrained power projection. In the short term, the Board aims to advance its Gaza framework ahead of the looming G20 Miami summit, with potential stabilization force deployment on the horizon.

Economically, the Gaza pledges hint at shifts toward private-public reconstruction funding, which could reshape Middle East investment if ceasefire stability holds. Trump's Davos message urged Europe to boost energy and trade to counter stagnation, citing issues like migration in Minnesota as examples. Long-term, experts foresee a deepening multilateral crisis if major powers remain sidelined, potentially escalating a U.S.-centric global order. As one attendee noted anonymously, "It's a bold gamble—either it redefines alliances or fractures them further."