The Peace Council’s inaugural meeting in Washington on Thursday, February 19, will feature leaders from Hungary, Albania, Vietnam, and Indonesia, with Romania as an observer.
Meeting Details
The inaugural Peace Council meeting will be held on Thursday, February 19, in Washington. Leaders from Hungary, Albania, Vietnam, and Indonesia will attend, with Romania represented as an observer. Other countries, including Belarus and Italy, will send lower-level representatives. Italy initially considered sending Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni but instead dispatched its foreign minister.
$5 Billion for Gaza Reconstruction
President Trump expects $5 billion in pledges for Gaza’s reconstruction. The meeting, held at the Department of State’s Peace Institute named after Trump, will last about an hour before he travels to Georgia for a campaign event. No specific countries have yet been mentioned for funding.
Background on the Peace Council
Trump announced the Peace Council on January 15, initially focused on Gaza but later expanded to other conflicts. The preamble mentions moving away from “failed approaches,” indirectly criticizing the UN, which Trump has openly condemned. Critics fear it could rival the UN.
Poland’s Stance on the Council
Poland will not participate in the Peace Council, though a representative may attend as an observer. Prime Minister Donald Tusk clarified that President Andrzej Duda’s envoy, Marcin Przydacz, head of the International Policy Office, will attend in an observational capacity.