Rubio stated that “it is the beginning of a new era” and that the initiative, initially focused on Gaza, seeks to become “a model for the rest of the world of what is possible.”
MADRID, Spain.- The Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, presided this Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos over the signing ceremony of the founding charter of the so-called Peace Junta (Board of Peace), an initiative promoted by the president donald trump with the stated goal of coordinating international conflict resolution efforts, with an initial focus on the ceasefire and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
During his speech, Rubio affirmed that the new body will be made up of governments willing to take an active role in the implementation of agreements and in monitoring commitments on the ground. According to the State Department, the secretary stressed that the immediate priority of the Board will be to contribute to making the cessation of hostilities in Gaza sustainable and advance a framework of stability for the region. The founding charter was signed by representatives of 19 countries and is open to the accession of other States that have been invited to join in later stages.
According to official information, Rubio will chair the executive committee of the Board along with the special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The structure provides for the creation of diplomatic and technical working groups in charge of coordinating international assistance, reconstruction and verification mechanisms in conflict zones, starting with Gaza and with the possibility of expanding their scope of action to other scenarios.
«Today is the beginning of a new era and a new stage that we consider very important as a model for the rest of the world of what is possible. And it’s clear that the focus right now is on Gaza, on ensuring that the plan that is going to be presented to you here today, this vision for the future of Gaza, this vision for the future of the region, is not only possible and promising, but is our destiny if we put in the time and effort it requires, as I know this board will. But I also think it will serve as an example of what is possible in other parts of the world,” he said during his speech.
The launch of the new organization occurred in parallel with an intense diplomatic agenda of the US administration in Davos. At the same forum, President Trump announced that has entrusted Rubio to lead the efforts for Miami to host the 2035 Universal Exhibitiona candidacy that, according to the White House, seeks to reinforce the role of the United States as host of major international events and as a platform for economic and diplomatic projection.
In his statements in Davos, Rubio also referred to the need to coordinate the work of the new organization with humanitarian agencies, international financial institutions and regional actors, in order to ensure that reconstruction and stabilization efforts have sufficient resources and supervision mechanisms.
The creation of the Peace Board has sparked diverse reactions among governments and international organizations. Some European countries reported that, for the moment, they will not join the new mechanism and reiterated their support for multilateral processes within the United Nations framework. Other States from the Middle East, Central Asia and Latin America are among the signatories of the letter or among those that have expressed interest in participating in future phases.
