Live: Trump participates in Davos peace charter announcement

Key Concepts

• Board of Peace: A newly formed international organization, chaired by Donald J. Trump, aimed at resolving global conflicts and fostering peace, starting with Gaza.
• Operation Midnight Hammer: A military operation attributed to the Trump administration that allegedly obliterated Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity.
• Gaza Peace Plan: A comprehensive plan for the permanent end to the conflict in Gaza, unanimously adopted by the United Nations Security Council.
• Demilitarization of Gaza: A core principle of the Gaza Peace Plan, requiring Hamas to surrender its weapons for the region's rebuilding and stability.
• National Committee for the Administration of Gaza: A newly established technocratic, apolitical committee responsible for governing Gaza, restoring order, and rebuilding institutions.
• Rafa Crossing: A critical border crossing for Palestinians in Gaza, announced to be reopened in both directions as a symbol of opportunity and a lifeline.
• First Principles Approach: A problem-solving methodology, attributed to President Trump, focusing on aiming for the most optimal outcome rather than incremental improvements or avoiding downsides.
• Humanitarian Aid (Gaza): Record levels of aid delivered to Gaza, addressing food needs and reducing the cost of goods.
• Economic Redevelopment (Gaza): A master plan to rebuild Gaza into zones, fostering industry, employment, and a free-market economy.
• UN Security Council Resolution 2803: The resolution that unanimously adopted the Gaza Peace Plan, providing international backing for the Board of Peace's mandate.

The event centers around the official formation and initial actions of the Board of Peace, an international organization chaired by Donald J. Trump, aimed at resolving global conflicts and fostering peace, with an immediate focus on Gaza. The proceedings include speeches from President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Dr. Ali Shy (Head of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza via video message), and US Special Envoys Steve Witco and Jared Kushner, concluding with remarks from High Representative for Gaza Nikolay Mladenov and President Trump.

Formation and Vision of the Board of Peace

Donald J. Trump announced the official formation of the Board of Peace, describing it as a "very exciting day, long in the making," with many countries expressing interest in joining. He emphasized its potential to be "one of the most consequential bodies ever created." Trump, serving as its chairman, highlighted the organization's commitment to ending "decades of suffering, stop generations of hatred and bloodshed, and forge a beautiful, everlasting, and glorious peace" for the Middle East and the world. He noted that the Board would work in conjunction with the United Nations, acknowledging the UN's "tremendous potential" despite its perceived underutilization in past conflicts.

The Board of Peace Charter was formally signed and ratified by Sheikh Isa of Bahrain and Foreign Minister Berita of Morocco, officially establishing it as an international organization. This was followed by a signing ceremony involving leaders from Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Uzbekistan, and Mongolia, signifying broad international commitment.

Key Achievements and Global Impact (as presented by Donald Trump)

President Trump detailed a series of significant achievements attributed to his administration, particularly during the first year of his second term:

• Peace in the Middle East: Credited Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Whitco, and Jared Kushner for achieving "peace in the Middle East," which "nobody thought was possible."
• Resolution of Wars: Claimed to have settled "eight wars" in nine months, including:
  • Cambodia and Thailand
  • Kosovo and Serbia
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo and Rwanda
  • Pakistan and India: Stated he "saved 10 and maybe 20 million lives" by stopping this conflict between two nuclear nations.
  • Israel and Iran
  • Egypt and Ethiopia: Working to settle a "tough situation" regarding a dam affecting the Nile River.
  • Armenia and Azerbaijan
  • Gaza: Stated the war is "really coming to an end," with "little fires" remaining.
• Ukraine/Russia Conflict: Acknowledged the ongoing conflict, citing high casualties (29,000 deaths last month, 27,000 the month prior, 26,000 before that), but claimed "a lot of progress" in meetings. He asserted the war "would have never happened if I were president."
• Economic Turnaround: Described the US economy as "booming with virtually no inflation" (1.2% for the last 3 months) and economic growth of 5.4%, with potential to double or triple. He claimed to have inherited "the worst inflation in the history of our country."
• Investment and Trade: Secured commitments for "over 18 trillion dollars in new investment" into the US, a "record by many times over." The trade deficit was "slashed by 77%" in one year, and "historic trade deals" were signed globally.
• Iran's Nuclear Program: Obliterated Iran's nuclear enrichment capacity through "Operation Midnight Hammer," using B2 bombers to hit air shafts and destroy facilities when Iran was "two months away from having a nuclear weapon."
• Defeat of ISIS: Claimed to have "hit ISIS and Syria very strongly," having taken out Al Baghdadi in his first administration and hitting ISIS hard again after it "formed again a little bit" during the Biden administration. Syria is now making "tremendous progress" after sanctions were lifted.
• Nigeria: Stated his administration is "annihilating terrorists who are killing Christians."
• Military Strength: Rebuilt the US military in his first term, now making it "even stronger" with a budget of over $1 trillion this year, increasing to $1.5 trillion next year.
• NATO Defense Spending: Secured commitments from "virtually all NATO allies" to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP, with Spain being the sole exception.
• Southern Border Security: Stopped the "invasion" on the southern border and designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Claimed to have stopped "almost 100%" of drugs coming in by water (98.1%) and expects to easily stop them on land.
• Venezuela: Captured "outlaw dictator Nicholas Maduro," leading to "great relationships with the new leaders." The country is being opened to US oil companies, with 50 million barrels of oil already taken out. Venezuela is noted as having the second-largest oil reserves globally after the US (which holds 62% of the world's oil).

The Gaza Peace Plan: Details and Implementation

The Gaza Peace Plan, unanimously adopted by the UN Security Council, is the initial focus of the Board of Peace. Key aspects include:

• Ceasefire and Aid: Phase one involved maintaining the Gaza ceasefire and delivering "record levels of humanitarian aid," which has led to an "overabundance" of food and a significant drop in the cost of goods. Over 55,000 trucks and 1.4 million pallets of aid have been delivered, described as the "largest humanitarian effort done into a war zone."
• Hostage Release: Secured the release of all 20 remaining living hostages and recovered the bodies of 27 out of 28 deceased hostages. Hamas is urged to return the last remaining deceased hostage.
• Future of Gaza: The plan aims for Gaza to be "demilitarized, properly governed, and beautifully rebuilt."
• National Committee for the Administration of Gaza: Dr. Ali Shy, Chief Commissioner of this new technocratic, apolitical committee, announced the reopening of the Rafa Crossing next week in both directions, calling it a "lifeline and symbol of opportunity." The committee's mission statement focuses on establishing security, restoring essential services (electricity, water, healthcare, education), and cultivating a society rooted in peace, democracy, and justice.
• Economic Redevelopment: Jared Kushner presented a master plan for Gaza's redevelopment, led by real estate developer Yakir Gabay. The plan involves creating zones, starting with "Rothel" for workforce housing (estimated 2-3 years) and eventually "New Gaza" as a destination with industry and full employment. The goal is to shift Gaza from an aid-dependent economy (85% of GDP from aid) to a free-market economy.
• Demilitarization: This is a critical next phase, with the new Gaza government working with Hamas. Kushner stressed that there is "no plan B" for demilitarization, and if Hamas does not comply, it will "hold back Gaza and the people of Gaza from achieving their aspiration."
• Next Steps: The next 100 days will focus on implementation, continued humanitarian aid, shelter, and creating conditions for progress. A conference in Washington will announce private sector investment opportunities.

Perspectives on Leadership and Action

• Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised President Trump's leadership, stating he is "not limited by what others say is possible or what others say is impossible." Rubio emphasized that the Board of Peace is a "board of action," contrasting it with forums that produce "scripted statements" but "no action." He highlighted the diverse membership, including former adversaries, as a testament to Trump's vision.
• US Special Envoys Steve Witco and Jared Kushner reiterated the "impossible" nature of the task they were given but credited President Trump's "first principles approach" – aiming for the most optimal outcome, even if it seems impossible. They emphasized the need to change mindsets and behaviors to implement peace effectively.
• High Representative for Gaza Nikolay Mladenov urged the international community to "put away your talking points for a minute," "put away your fears," and "stop listening to the rumors and to the gossip." He called for focus on the future of 2 million Palestinians, seeing it as an opportunity for 1 billion people in the Middle East and beyond.

Conclusion

President Trump concluded by stating, "it's all happening," emphasizing the strategic location of Gaza on the sea as a key asset for its future. He reaffirmed the United States' strong support for the initiative and expressed confidence that the Board of Peace would not be a "waste of time" but would deliver tangible results, building on the "outstanding" team and the "great leaders" involved. The overarching message was one of unprecedented success, bold leadership, and a collective commitment to achieving lasting peace and prosperity in Gaza and beyond.