Donald Trump launched the first Board of Peace meeting in Washington, D.C., announcing $7 billion in aid for the Gaza Strip, up from the previously announced $5 billion.
Foreign news agencies reported that U.S. President Donald Trump opened the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace, which he helped establish, in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, 19 Feb 2026 GMT+7. The meeting focused on discussions about the Gaza Strip and security in other global regions.
In his opening remarks, Trump welcomed dozens of world leaders attending, saying many had become "wonderful friends" of his. He described the Board of Peace as one of the most important and far-reaching initiatives he has been involved with.
Trump then announced the names of nine countries pledging a total of $7 billion to aid Gaza's recovery, an increase from the $5 billion he had declared the previous week.
Trump stated that the countries committing funds included Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait.
"Every dollar spent is an investment in stability and hope to rebuild a region of renewed harmony," Trump said while thanking the donors.
Trump also announced raising $10 billion for the Board of Peace but did not specify its intended uses. "The Board of Peace is demonstrating how we can create a better future, starting right here in this conference room," he said.
The U.S. president again expressed concerns and criticism toward the United Nations during the meeting, saying the UN should be more involved in resolving conflicts than it currently is.
However, Trump added that the U.S. would work closely with the United Nations. "One day I won’t be here, but the UN will remain, and I believe it will become much stronger. The Board of Peace is almost like a watchdog for the UN, ensuring it operates properly," he said.
Trump mentioned various conflicts he claimed to have resolved and described Iran as the "current critical point," noting his representatives had "very interesting" discussions with Iranian officials and emphasized that
"Over the years, it has become clear that reaching a meaningful agreement with Iran is not easy, but we must achieve a meaningful deal. Otherwise, bad things will happen."
More than 20 world leaders and senior officials traveled to Washington to attend the meeting, including allies sharing Trump's ideology such as Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who faces a challenging election, and Argentine President Javier Milei.
Also present was Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who is seeking to strengthen ties with Trump to gain support in the conflict with India.
However, traditional major U.S. allies, including those in Europe, did not attend this meeting.
Japan, usually one of the closest U.S. allies, had not decided whether to join the board and sent only a representative responsible for Gaza affairs.
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Source:apnews