US President Donald Trump on Thursday formally launched the Board of Peace, unveiling its charter and announcing that he will serve as chair of the new global body, which he described as a landmark platform to institutionalize conflict resolution in partnership with world leaders and the United Nations.
Speaking during the charter announcement, Trump said the board brings together “the top leaders in the world” at a time when global stability, in his view, has markedly improved under his second administration.
“This is a very exciting day, long in the making. Countries just received their notice. Everybody wants to be a part of it,” Trump said, adding that the initiative would work “with many others, including the United Nations.”
Trump credited his administration with helping end or de-escalate eight major conflicts within nine months, citing engagements involving Israel and Iran, Pakistan and India, Kosovo and Serbia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, Cambodia and Thailand, among others.
“We’ve settled eight wars, and I believe another one’s coming pretty soon,” he said, while acknowledging that efforts to end the war in Ukraine remained “probably the most difficult.”
On the Middle East, Trump said the Board of Peace builds on progress already made, including a Gaza ceasefire adopted by the UN Security Council and the release of all 20 remaining living hostages.
“The Gaza ceasefire delivered record levels of humanitarian aid, and we secured the release of all 20 living hostages,” he said, insisting that Gaza must ultimately be “demilitarized, properly governed and beautifully rebuilt.”
Trump also highlighted military actions taken during his second term, including the destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment facilities in what he termed “Operation Midnight Hammer.”
“They were two months away from having a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen,” he said, adding that Iran had since expressed willingness to engage in talks. He further noted renewed operations against ISIS in Syria and militant groups in other regions.
Turning to the economy, Trump said his administration had overseen a dramatic turnaround, claiming inflation had fallen to 1.2 percent over the last three months, economic growth stood at about 5.4 percent, and the United States had secured over $18 trillion in new investment commitments.
“There’s no country ever in history that’s gotten anywhere near that number,” he said, also claiming the US trade deficit had been slashed by 77 percent in a year.
Trump said the Board of Peace, once fully operational, would work closely with the UN to prevent and resolve conflicts worldwide.
“The first steps toward a brighter day for the Middle East and a much safer future for the world are unfolding right before your very eyes,” he said, calling the initiative “one of the most consequential bodies ever created.”
