Trump's Board of Peace to Gather for Inaugural Meeting
Good morning and welcome to the US politics live blog. The inaugural meeting of US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, an initiative aimed at ending the war in Gaza, commences today with representatives from over 45 countries expected to attend.
However, several major European allies, including the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, have declined their invitations, expressing concerns about the group’s operations and its potential to rival the United Nations. Notably, there is no Palestinian representation on the board, while Israel holds a seat.
The summit takes place nearly three months after the UN Security Council approved a US-backed ceasefire plan, which included a two-year mandate for the Board of Peace to oversee the demilitarisation and reconstruction of Gaza. Key unresolved issues include the disarmament of Hamas, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza, the scope of reconstruction, and the flow of humanitarian aid into the territory.
Prior to the meeting, Trump announced that board members have pledged $5 billion (£3.7 billion) for reconstruction efforts, a fraction of the needs in Gaza, which has been devastated by two years of conflict.
The ceasefire remains fragile, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations. Under the ceasefire terms, Israeli troops withdrew to positions behind a so-called security perimeter, although they maintain control over more than half the territory.
Trump Endorses Viktor Orbán Ahead of Hungarian Elections
Donald Trump has publicly endorsed Hungary’s Viktor Orbán ahead of parliamentary elections, where the illiberal European leader faces the possibility of being ousted after 16 years in power.
“I’m not supposed to be endorsing people, but I endorse when I like people. You know, I’ve had a very good record of endorsing candidates within the United States, but now I endorse foreign leaders, including Viktor Orbán,” Trump stated.
Trump also highlighted his support for Argentina’s Javier Milei, another attendee of the Board of Peace inaugural meeting, noting that his endorsement helped Milei win a recent election.
“He was a little behind in the polls,” Trump said. “He ended up winning in a landslide.”
Regarding Orbán, Trump added:
“Prime Minister Orbán of Hungary … has my complete and total endorsement for election. Not everybody in Europe loves that endorsement. That’s OK. He does an unbelievable job. He’s done an incredible job on immigration. Unlike some countries that have hurt themselves, they’re working on it.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously suggested that the US would provide Hungary with financial support and extend sanctions relief on Russian gas and oil purchases for as long as Orbán remains in power.
Details remain scarce on how Trump plans to resolve the conflict in Gaza or initiate reconstruction efforts.
Trump began his remarks with the claim that he has ended eight wars, though the ongoing conflict in Ukraine remains unresolved.
Welcoming member states, he remarked that “there’s never been anything close” to this level of prestige for the Board of Peace.
Board of Peace Meeting Commences with Select Attendance
Donald Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace meeting started late. World leaders and delegates, mainly from the Middle East and Asia, gathered for a family photo before speeches began at the recently renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. Trump entered the room and exchanged brief words with Viktor Orbán, a right-wing ally and one of the few European leaders attending. US NATO allies opted not to join the organisation, sending observers instead, with some expressing concerns that the Board of Peace undermines other international bodies like the United Nations.
Trump also shook hands with autocrats including Azerbaijan’s Ilham Aliyev and right-wing allies such as Argentina’s Javier Milei.
US speakers at the event include Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, and UN ambassador Mike Waltz. JD Vance appeared for the photo but was not scheduled to speak.
The speaking roster is dominated by Gulf countries, with representatives from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar slated to speak, alongside the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, Turkey’s foreign minister, and Romania’s president.
Delegates will also view a video presentation by FIFA, reflecting FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s close relationship with Trump.
“I think we have to smile,” Trump said. “A lot of good people.”
“Does everybody like the music? It’s good music.”
As the event began, it was noted that Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania are among over a dozen countries sending senior officials, but only Hungary is expected to be a board member. Several key European allies and the Vatican declined the US invitation to join the board.
Lawmakers Introduce War Powers Resolution to Limit Military Action in Iran
Congressmen Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie plan to introduce a war powers resolution next week aiming to force a House vote to limit the Trump administration’s potential military action against Iran.
“Trump officials say there’s a 90% chance of strikes on Iran. He can’t without Congress,” Khanna, a California Democrat, said amid reports that the US is positioning aircraft carriers and assembling a large fighter jet arsenal for possible strikes.
Khanna has partnered with Republican Massie, with whom he previously worked to advance the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
“I first got into politics to end the Iraq War. I won’t let Trump launch a disastrous war without Congress voting to stop it,” Khanna added.
Donald Trump will begin his day in Washington for the Board of Peace meeting at the White House before traveling to Rome, Georgia, as part of a nationwide tour promoting the administration’s affordability agenda. He will meet with local businesses and deliver remarks at 4pm ET.
In recent months, Trump has visited various cities to highlight the positive impact of his economic policies. Updates on his statements regarding possible military action against Iran will be provided as they occur.
US Deploys Largest Air Power in Middle East Since 2003 Iraq Invasion
The United States has assembled the largest air power presence in the Middle East since the 2003 Iraq invasion, according to reports.
The 2003 invasion began with a massive airstrike on Baghdad, demonstrating US military might. Currently, the US is considering an attack on Iran, deploying advanced F-35 and F-22 jet fighters to the region, with a second aircraft carrier carrying attack and electronic-warfare planes en route.
US officials told the press that this buildup provides the capability for a sustained, weeks-long air campaign against Iran. Trump has received multiple briefings on options designed to inflict maximum damage on Iran’s regime and regional proxies.
These options reportedly include targeted strikes against Iranian political and military leaders and attacks on nuclear and ballistic missile facilities.
While Trump is reportedly presiding over a tense situation in Washington, he is also making a trip to the battleground state of Georgia to bolster Republican prospects in the upcoming midterm elections.
The administration stated that the focus of Trump’s visit will be the economy. He is scheduled to visit Rome, in northwest Georgia, a congressional district formerly represented by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a former Trump ally who resigned in January. A special election to fill her seat is set for 10 March.
“Georgia is obviously a very important state to the president and to the Republican party,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt ahead of the visit.
Doctors Without Borders to Continue Gaza Operations Despite Israeli Restrictions
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) announced it will continue operations in Gaza as long as possible following an Israeli decision to end its activities there.
Earlier this month, MSF was ordered to cease operations after refusing to provide Israeli authorities with personal details of its staff members. MSF criticized the move, effective 1 March, as a “pretext” to obstruct aid delivery.
“For the time being, we are still working in Gaza, and we plan to keep running our operations as long as we can,” said Filipe Ribeiro, head of mission for MSF in Gaza, to AFP.
’s community affairs correspondent Geneva Abdul reported on medics in the UK and US who believe they have been denied re-entry to Gaza after speaking out on the conflict.
Trump Officials Plan 5,000-Person Military Base in Gaza
The US is planning to construct a 5,000-person military base in Gaza, spanning over 350 acres, according to Board of Peace contracting records reviewed by .
The base is intended as a military operating site for a future International Stabilisation Force (ISF), a multinational military force composed of pledged troops. The ISF is part of the newly established Board of Peace, chaired by Trump and partly led by his son-in-law Jared Kushner.
The plans outline phased construction of a military outpost with a footprint of 1,400 meters by 1,100 meters, surrounded by 26 trailer-mounted armored watchtowers, a small arms range, bunkers, and a warehouse for military equipment. The entire base will be enclosed with barbed wire.
Russia and Iran Conduct Naval Drills Amid Regional Tensions
Russia and Iran have conducted joint naval exercises in the Gulf of Oman, with the Kremlin calling for restraint amid increasing fears of a US military strike against Tehran.
The Kremlin described the drills as planned exercises and not a cause for alarm, occurring against a backdrop of heightened US military activity in the Middle East.
“Russia continues to develop relations with Iran and in doing so, we call on our Iranian friends and all parties in the region to exercise restraint and prudence,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.
“We are currently witnessing an unprecedented escalation of tension in the region, but we still hope that political and diplomatic means and negotiations will continue to prevail in the search for a settlement.”
Reports indicate that the US military is preparing for possible strikes on Iran, potentially as soon as this weekend. Unnamed sources cited by several news outlets say Trump has not yet made a final decision, but the US military buildup capable of striking nuclear and other targets in Iran continues.
Trump has repeatedly demanded that Iran halt its nuclear program and warned that he intends to use force if no agreement is reached.
Study Reveals Gaza Death Toll Higher Than Previously Reported
A study published in the Lancet medical journal on Wednesday found that more than 75,000 people were killed in the first 16 months of the two-year war in Gaza, at least 25,000 more than the death toll announced by local authorities at the time.
The research also confirmed that reporting by the Gaza Health Ministry regarding the proportions of women, children, and elderly among the casualties was accurate.
A total of 42,200 women, children, and elderly people died between 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack into Israel prompting a devastating Israeli offensive, and 5 January 2025. These deaths accounted for 56% of violent deaths in Gaza.
“The combined evidence suggests that, as of 5 January 2025, 3-4% of the population of the Gaza Strip had been killed violently and there have been a substantial number of non-violent deaths caused indirectly by the conflict,” the study authors wrote in Lancet Global Health.
Authoritarian Leaders Predominate on Trump’s Board of Peace
A group of predominantly authoritarian and oppressive world leaders and their envoys are attending the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington.
Global powers, including traditional US allies, fear the US-led body is an attempt to circumvent the more democratic United Nations and replace it with a fee-paying members’ club controlled by a single individual.
It remains unclear how many of the over 20 Board of Peace members, chaired and run by Trump, will attend the first meeting. Many founding member countries are governed by military regimes or dictatorships, while others joined to appease Trump.
’s Olive Holmes provides further analysis on the list of confirmed attendees and their countries’ rankings on political rights and civil liberties.
