Trump announced the establishment of the board — which he touted as “the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place” — on Friday as a key part of his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas. The committee, chaired by Trump, will oversee the transitional governance of Gaza.
The U.S. embassy in Brussels did not immediately respond to questions about the invitation.
Putin, for his part, has spent the last four years waging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which has killed thousands of civilians, and demolished towns and cities.
Invitations to join the board were also addressed to countries including Argentina, Egypt, India, and Turkey among others. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has also received an invitation, as has Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Those who want a permanent membership beyond the three-year term will have to cough up $1 billion, Bloomberg first reported. Canada will join but won’t pay for the permanent seat, Carney said.
So far, the leaders of Hungary, Kazakhstan, and Vietnam have accepted the invitation.
“Hungary’s efforts for peace are being recognised. President Trump has invited Hungary to join the work of The Board of Peace as a founding member. We have, of course, accepted this honourable invitation,” Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said.
The executive committee of the board will include, among others, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and Ajay Banga, the head of the World Bank.