Speaking to reporters while returning from Davos, Trump said Polish President Karol Nawrocki and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had expressed interest in joining the body, which Trump said would initially focus on rebuilding the Gaza Strip and later address other global conflicts.
Asked whether Britain and France might also join, Trump said they “will want it,” adding that some leaders would need parliamentary approval before signing on.
Trump said that “almost 30 people from very important countries” had so far agreed to join.
He said Poland and Italy were among countries where constitutional or legislative procedures require consultation with parliament.
Trump said Nawrocki had told him Poland wants to join.
"He's great by the way. He's doing a great job, Karol," Trump added.
Trump formally launched the Board of Peace in Davos on Thursday, saying it would work with the United Nations to help resolve international conflicts.
He said cooperation with the Board would be "good for the UN."
Poland's Nawrocki said on Thursday he was in contact with Prime Minister Donald Tusk about Poland's potential membership of the Board of Peace.
Nawrocki attended the ceremony in Davos but did not sign the declaration to join the initiative.
“For constitutional and legislative reasons, given Poland’s legal system, I did not sign the declaration,” Nawrocki told reporters, adding, however, that Poland’s invitation to participate carried “prestige.”
Under Polish law, joining an international organisation requires government approval, parliamentary consent and ratification by the president.
According to the White House, the Board of Peace charter has been signed by leaders including Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Argentine President Javier Milei, as well as leaders of Bahrain, Morocco, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.
Russia and China were not among the founding members.
Late on Thursday, Trump said he had withdrawn an invitation to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to join the initiative.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the invitation had been rescinded, calling the board "the most prestigious Board of leaders ever assembled."
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP, YouTube