Created to help rebuild Gaza and then given a broader conflict resolution mission, Donald Trump's Peace Council held its first meeting in Washington on Thursday. The American president gave a long speech but provided little information about the objectives of his billion-euro council.
Published on: 02/19/2026 - 08:15 Modified on: 02/20/2026 - 08:10
Donald Trump opened the first meeting of his Peace Council on Thursday February 19. From the search for an agreement with Iran to the reconstruction of Gaza, including "surveillance" of the UN, during his - disjointed - inauguration speech, the American president swept wide, providing few details as to the objectives of his council.
Some 47 countries, only some of which are strictly speaking members of the Peace Council, and the European Union (EU), as an "observer", were present.
An ultimatum issued to Iran
Donald Trump said he was giving himself "ten to fifteen days" to decide whether an agreement with Iran is possible, or whether he would instead use force against Tehran.
"We may have to go further, or maybe not, we may have a deal. You will probably find out in the next ten days," the US president said in a speech in Washington to his Peace Council, which was holding its first meeting.
He then mentioned a delay of "ten, fifteen days" maximum, during an exchange with reporters on the plane taking him to Georgia (south-east) for a trip devoted to the economy.
The American president repeated, during his speech in Washington, that without a "relevant" agreement, "bad things" will happen, while the United States has established an imposing naval and air strike force in the Middle East.
Billions for Gaza, a stabilization and police force
Donald Trump said several countries, mostly from the Gulf, had pledged "more than $7 billion" to rebuild the devastated Gaza Strip.
He also announced an American contribution of $10 billion for the Peace Council, which has a broader and very vague mission to resolve conflicts in the world.
The meeting takes place in an “Institute for Peace” which recently bears the name of Donald Trump on its facade.
The meeting also concerns the sending of thousands of soldiers for a stabilization force, and the creation of a police force.
The head of the provisional administration of the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Ali Shaath, is among the participants.
Trump and his allies
The meeting began with a family photo, while Donald Trump's favorite hits, ranging from Elvis Presley to James Brown, sounded.
“Everyone likes music?” commented the 79-year-old billionaire, encouraging his guests to “smile”.
On the stage, the head of Israeli diplomacy, Gideon Saar, stood alongside the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdelrahmane Al-Thani.
The American president, in a largely improvised speech, paid tribute to certain allies such as the Hungarian Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, or the Argentine President, Javier Milei.
Credibility at stake
Bruce Jones, expert at the Brookings Institution, describes the American president's project to AFP as "a confusing mixture of ambition and narcissism, which is not based on any effort at intellectual coherence."
Donald Trump, president of the Peace Council, is the only one authorized to “invite” other leaders and can revoke their participation quite easily.
“If this meeting (Thursday) does not produce rapid and concrete results” particularly on the humanitarian level, “its credibility will quickly collapse,” predicts Max Rodenbeck, expert from the International Crisis Group, in a press release.
After more than four months of ceasefire, shootings and strikes remain daily in the Gaza Strip, where Israel and Hamas accuse each other of violating the truce.
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“Monitoring” the UN?
Beyond Gaza, the Peace Council's mission is to "guarantee lasting peace in regions affected or threatened by conflict." Enough, on paper, to compete with the United Nations.
The UN "has great potential" but has "never realized it", lamented Donald Trump, who prides himself on having resolved eight conflicts on his own since his return to power.
The Peace Council will "almost monitor" the UN and "ensure that it functions properly", he added.
Permanent members of the Peace Council must pay $1 billion to join.
Who participates or not in the Peace Council?
Leaders ideologically aligned with Donald Trump, but also countries concerned by the future of Gaza or wishing to curry favor with the American president joined the body.
The United States' major traditional allies and major rivals have mostly abstained from joining the Peace Council as founding members.
Some came Thursday as “observers”, like Italy or Germany. Others, like France, remain on the sidelines.
China, an invitee, has not signaled any intention to participate.
With AFP
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