The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain announced on Tuesday their acceptance of an invitation from United States President Donald Trump to join the ‘Board of Peace,’ a US-led initiative.
The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed in a statement that President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had accepted the invitation. Similarly, Bahrain’s foreign ministry announced that King Hamad bin Issa Al Khalifa had also accepted the offer to join the board.
Both Gulf nations are close US allies and were signatories of the 2020 Abraham Accords, which established official relations with Israel during Trump’s first presidential term.
The ‘Board of Peace’ has generated international discussion, partly due to its membership structure. According to its charter, a permanent seat on the Trump-chaired board requires a financial contribution of $1 billion. While member countries typically serve for three-year terms, this restriction is waived for those who meet the financial requirement within the first year. Neither the UAE nor Bahrain has publicly stated whether they intend to secure a permanent seat.
Originally intended to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, the board’s charter suggests a broader role that could potentially rival the United Nations, a point of concern for some US allies.
In his statement, Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed noted that the decision reflects the importance of implementing President Trump’s peace plan for Gaza. Bahrain’s ministry also expressed support for Trump’s efforts toward establishing peace.
This development occurs amid ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region and follows the US-backed plan to end the war in Gaza, which began on October 10 of last year.
