iDeemlawfulNearly half of the countries listed under United States President Donald Trump’s newly launched “Board of Peace” are currently subject to travel restrictions to the US.
Trump signed the charter establishing the body, which is designed to help resolve international conflicts, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
He described the initiative as potentially “one of the most consequential bodies ever created.”
At the signing ceremony, representatives of 19 countries, largely from the Middle East, Asia and South America, stood alongside the US president.
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Those present included officials from Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Jordan, Argentina, Armenia, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria and Hungary.
Israel, Albania, Vietnam, Indonesia and Belarus reportedly agreed to join the initiative but were absent from the ceremony.
However, several of the participating countries face restrictions that limit their citizens’ ability to travel to the United States.
Last week, the US State Department instructed consular officers to suspend immigrant visa processing for 75 countries from January 21, pending a comprehensive review of screening and vetting procedures.
The tightened measures were introduced over concerns relating to welfare dependence.
Among the affected nations are Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Jordan, Armenia, Morocco, Azerbaijan, Albania and Belarus — 12 countries that are members of Trump’s Board of Peace.
It remains uncertain whether participation in the initiative will ease these restrictions.
Nigeria is also affected by the visa suspension, but the West African country was not invited to join the Board of Peace, ruling out any leverage from membership.
WHAT IS THE BOARD OF PEACE?
The initiative forms part of Trump’s 20-point roadmap for peace in Gaza, drafted last September for Israel and Hamas to endorse.
Under the proposal, the Board of Peace would consist of international leaders tasked with ensuring Hamas plays no governing role in Gaza.
Instead, governance of the territory would fall to the board, working alongside a “technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee.”
The United Nations Security Council endorsed the plan in November, though its expansion now mandates the board to promote stability, peace and governance “in areas affected or threatened by conflict.”
Concerns have been raised that the body could duplicate the functions of the United Nations, an organisation Trump has frequently criticised.
According to the charter, the US president will serve as chairman of the board indefinitely.
Member states will initially serve three-year terms, after which they must pay $1 billion to secure a permanent seat.
A US official told CNN that funds generated through the arrangement would be directed towards rebuilding Gaza.