Jan. 22 (UPI) — Nine Muslim-majority countries across the Middle East and Asia have announced their acceptance of President Donald Trump‘s invitation to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace intergovernmental organization, as they seek a permanent cease-fire to end the fighting in Gaza.
In a joint statement Wednesday, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates said they “welcome” Trump’s invitation and will join his Board of Peace.
The foreign ministry of Kuwait followed hours later with a similar statement of its own.
The eight nations, led by Saudi Arabia, placed Gaza at the center of their acceptance.
The ministers said they “reaffirm their countries’ commitment to supporting the implementation of the mission of the Board of Peace as a transitional administration … aimed at consolidating a permanent cease-fire, supporting the reconstruction of Gaza and advancing a just and lasting peace grounded in the Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood in accordance with international law.”
So far, at least 19 countries have agreed to join the Board of Peace, though no major European nation and several U.S. allies invited have either declined the invitation or remain uncommitted.
Trump first announced the board as part of a 20-point plan aimed at securing a cease-fire in Gaza, which has been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. On Friday, the White House announced the board’s appointed members, including U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, World Bank President Ajay Banga and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, among others.
While initially conceived to help bring an end to the two-year-old Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, the board’s charter does not mention the Palestinian enclave, raising concerns over the scope of the board. Trump has suggested that it will seek to address other world conflicts, stating that “it might” replace the United Nations.
The announcement comes after Israel confirmed it accepted the offer on Wednesday, and Kosovo and Bahrain on Tuesday.
Concerns have also been raised about those invited to join, such as President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
Both Trump and the Kremlin have confirmed that Putin was asked to join, and Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, the U.S. president told reporters Putin had accepted.
“This is the greatest board ever assembled, and everybody wants to be on it,” he said. “But, yeah, I have some controversial people on it. But these are people who get the job done. These are people that have tremendous influence. If I put all babies on the board, it wouldn’t be very much.”
The Kremlin has yet to confirm.
Canada has indicated it is willing to join, but that it will not pay the $1 billion Trump is requesting as a fee.
Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada, speaking during the World Economic Forum, said that Ottawa sees the board as a vehicle for peace in Gaza and that it should be designed to meet the needs there.
He said the board needs to coincide with the “immediate full-flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza” where “conditions are still horrific.”
“We think there’s aspects of the governance and the decision-making process that could be improved,” he said. “But we will work with others, obviously work with the United States because we can improve the situation there and to move onto a path to a true two-state solution.”
Asked if Canada is willing to pay the $1 billion fee, Carney replied: “We would write checks and deliver in kind to improve the welfare of the people of Palestine, but we want to see it delivered direct to those outcomes, those outcomes promoting peace.”