Trump's 'Board of Peace' to hold first meeting, with key U.S. allies absent

President Donald Trump's 'Board of Peace' will convene for its long-awaited inaugural meeting on Thursday in Washington D.C., focusing on the next phase of the fragile ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The newly formed diplomatic body, established by Trump to address international conflicts, comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East and a delicate truce between Israel and Hamas that requires careful management. Despite the administration's emphasis on multilateral engagement, several key U.S. allies including traditional European partners have reportedly declined to participate in this first meeting, raising questions about the initiative's international standing and effectiveness. The Board's agenda centers on sustaining the current humanitarian pause in Gaza while negotiating a more permanent resolution to the long-standing conflict, with Trump administration officials expressing cautious optimism about the prospects for meaningful progress. The absence of key allies suggests potential diplomatic friction as the administration pursues its unconventional approach to Middle East peace efforts, which has often prioritized direct negotiations over established multilateral frameworks.