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The signing ceremony took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting, where leaders and senior officials from 19 countries gathered with President Trump. Trump signed the charter first and later witnessed other leaders add their names.

Pakistan received an official invitation from President Trump and accepted it after consultations. Trump, who will serve as chairman of the Board of Peace, described the group as a mix of popular and less popular leaders, saying leadership often brings mixed reactions.

Also Read: Pakistan joins Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ for lasting ceasefire

The board was first planned to oversee peace and rebuilding efforts in Gaza after the Hamas-Israel war. However, the charter also gives it a broader role in resolving global conflicts, raising concerns among some countries that it could challenge the role of the United Nations.

Trump rejected these concerns and said the board would work “in conjunction” with the UN, not replace it. Still, critics point to the rule that permanent members must pay $1 billion, calling it a “pay to play” model similar to the UN Security Council.

The board’s proposed membership has already sparked debate. Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to join, though Moscow later said the offer was still under review.

Major US allies such as the UK and France chose not to sign the charter. Britain openly declined to attend the ceremony, showing clear skepticism about the initiative.

Leaders or officials from Bahrain, Morocco, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia signed the document. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he will join, but was absent from the event.

Also Read: Israeli attacks in Gaza kill 3 journalists amid ceasefire violations

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the board’s main goal was to ensure that any Gaza peace deal becomes long-lasting. Trump added that Hamas must disarm under the next phase of the ceasefire, warning that failure to do so would bring severe consequences.

The launch of the board also comes at a time when Trump has openly expressed frustration over not winning the Nobel Peace Prize, despite claiming credit for ending several conflicts.