Armenian PM to attend US-led Board of Peace meeting on Gaza

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has confirmed he will take part in a meeting of the US-led Board of Peace on Gaza on February 19, following an invitation from US President Donald Trump.

Pashinyan made the announcement during joint statements with US Vice President J.D. Vance in Yerevan, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“I would also like to note that I have received and gladly accepted the invitation from US President Donald Trump to attend the inaugural session of the Board of Peace on February 19,” he said.

The meeting is expected to take place at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C., and will also function as a fundraising event for the reconstruction of Gaza.

At least one world leader has confirmed attendance. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close ally of Trump within the European Union, said Saturday at a campaign event in Szombathely that he plans to travel to Washington in two weeks for the meeting.

Trump unveiled the board in late January, positioning it as a body aimed at resolving global conflicts. However, some experts have expressed concern that the initiative could undermine established international institutions, including the United Nations.

Governments have reacted cautiously to Trump’s invitation to join the board. While several Middle Eastern allies have signed on, many traditional Western partners have stayed away. Permanent membership reportedly requires a $1 billion commitment.

The board has roots in Trump’s Gaza plan, which facilitated a fragile ceasefire in October between Israel and Palestinian militants. Under the plan, the board was initially intended to oversee temporary governance in Gaza but has since been expanded to tackle broader global conflicts.

A spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the planned meeting.

Human rights experts have voiced concern over Trump personally overseeing the board, citing potential implications for international law and accountability.

By Aghakazim Guliyev