Pakistan among the 19 signatory countries of the charter; Shehbaz signs document alongside other leaders; UK and France skip ceremony
US President Donald Trump shares a lighter moment with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif while presenting the ‘Peace Council’ on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos. Photo: Express
DAVOS:
US President Donald Trump kicked off his new “Peace Council” in Davos on Thursday, with a signing ceremony for a billion-dollar body and a host of guests.
A group of leaders and senior officials from 19 countries — including Trump allies Argentina and Hungary — gathered on stage with Trump to inscribe their names on the body’s founding charter.
Pakistan signed the board charter as part of its ongoing efforts to support the implementation of the Gaza Peace Plan.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif signed the document along with other world leaders, including those of Qatar, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Argentina, Kosovo, Paraguay, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Bulgaria and others.
The US president was the first to sign the charter, after attending the ceremony held on the sidelines of the 56th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum held here.
Pakistan received President Trump’s invitation to join the Council, which was later accepted.
Pakistan was among eight Muslim states that announced their membership in the body on Wednesday, including Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
It was announced that each country would sign the accession documents in accordance with their respective legal and other necessary procedures, including Egypt, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates, which have already announced their accession.
Pakistan had expressed hope that with the creation of this framework, concrete steps would be taken towards the implementation of a permanent ceasefire, further intensification of humanitarian assistance to the Palestinians, as well as the reconstruction of Gaza.
“Pakistan also hopes that these efforts will lead to the realization of the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people, through a credible, time-bound political process consistent with international legitimacy and relevant UN resolutions, resulting in the creation of an independent, sovereign and contiguous Palestinian State based on the pre-1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Addressing the ceremony, President Trump said “everyone” wants to be part of his Peace Council.
He said he would continue to “work with many others, including the United Nations.”
Once this board is fully formed, we can do pretty much anything we want. And we will do it together with the United Nations,” Trump said, adding that the UN had great potential that had not been fully realized.
There is enormous potential with the United Nations, and I think the combination of the Peace Council with the type of people we have here could be something very, very unique for the world,” Trump said.
He also reiterated that his administration helped end eight wars in a ten-month period, specifically citing the prevention of a war between the two atomic powers, Pakistan and India.
Trump – who is the president of the Peace Council – said they were “in most cases very popular leaders, in some cases not so popular. That’s how life goes.”
Originally intended to oversee peace in Gaza following the war between Hamas and Israel, the council’s charter envisions a broader role in resolving international conflicts, sparking concerns that Trump wants it to rival the United Nations.
Trump, however, said the organization would work “in collaboration” with the UN.
The potential makeup of the Peace Council, however, has proven controversial, with Trump inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine four years ago.
Trump said Putin had agreed to join the group, while the Russian leader said he was still considering the invitation.
Permanent members also must pay $1 billion to join, sparking criticism that the board could become a “pay-to-play” version of the U.N. Security Council.
The United Kingdom and France refuse to sign
Key US allies including France and Britain have expressed skepticism, with the UK saying on Thursday it would not attend the ceremony.
The members on stage mostly had close ties to Trump, including Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Argentina’s Javier Milei, or wanted to show their allegiance to the US president.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is the subject of an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court over the Gaza war, said he would join the ceremony, but was not present at the ceremony.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during the ceremony that the council’s goal was “first and foremost to ensure that this peace agreement in Gaza becomes lasting.”
Trump, however, demanded that Hamas disarm in the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement, otherwise it would be “the end.”
The board’s launch comes amid Trump’s frustration at failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his disputed claims that he ended eight conflicts.
