At least eight other countries have said the United States has invited them to join President Donald Trump’s Peace Commission, A new body of world leaders aims to oversee next steps Gaza This demonstrates the ambition to gain a broader mandate in global affairs. Two of those countries – Hungary and Vietnam – said they had accepted it.
A U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity said paying $1 billion would get permanent membership on the Trump-led board, rather than a three-year appointment with no contribution requirement. The official said the funds raised would be used to rebuild Gaza.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has accepted an invitation to join the committee, Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto told state radio on Sunday. Orban is one of Trump’s most ardent supporters in Europe.
A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Communist Party of Vietnam General Secretary To Lam had also accepted.
A senior government official familiar with the matter said India had received the invitation. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because authorities have not made the information public.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation on Monday that Australia had been invited and would hold discussions with the United States “to properly understand what this means and what is involved.”
Jordan, Greece, Cyprus and Pakistan said on Sunday they had received invitations. Canada, Türkiye, Egypt, Paraguay, Argentina and Albania have already expressed invitations. It’s unclear how many people were invited in total.
The United States is expected to announce its formal membership in the coming days, likely during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Committee members will oversee follow-up actions in Gaza as the ceasefire agreement that took effect on October 10 enters the implementation phase. A challenging second phase. It includes establishing a new Palestinian council in Gaza, deploying international security forces, disarming Hamas and rebuilding the war-torn territory.
In a letter to world leaders on Friday inviting them to become “founding members,” Trump said the peace commission would “take a bold new approach to resolving conflicts around the world.”
This could become a potential rival to the United Nations Security Council, the most powerful body among global entities Created after World War II. The Board of Directors consists of 15 seats blocked by U.S. veto action to end the Gaza war at a time when the U.N.’s influence has been diminished by deep funding cuts by the Trump administration and other donors.
Trump’s invitation to the Peace Commission states, The Security Council has approved USA Gaza 20-point ceasefire planwhich includes the creation of a board of directors. Some invitees posted the letters on social media.
The White House also announced last week leadership executive committee Who will realize the Peace Commission’s vision, but Israel expressed its opposition on Saturday The committee “failed to coordinate with Israel, contrary to its policy,” but did not provide details. The statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office was a rare criticism of his close ally in Washington.
Executive committee members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel, as well as Israeli business owner and billionaire Yakir Gabe.
Members also include representatives of ceasefire monitors Qatar, Egypt and Türkiye. Türkiye has tense relations with Israel but good relations with Hamas and could play an important role in persuading the group to relinquish power in Gaza and disarm.
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Bock reported from West Palm Beach, Florida. Associated Press writers Justin Spike (Budapest, Hungary), Rajesh Roy (New Delhi) and Rod McGuirk (Canberra, Australia) contributed to this report.