The inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington on Thursday, February 19, 2026, served as a platform for President Donald Trump to project himself as a global peacemaker. A central theme of his address was the celebration of Pakistan’s civil-military leadership for their role in regional stability.
Praise for “The Field Marshal” and PM Shehbaz
President Trump was exceptionally vocal about his rapport with Pakistan’s top leadership, specifically highlighting their roles in de-escalating the May 2025 conflict with India.
- Field Marshal Asim Munir: Trump described the Chief of Defence Forces as a “great man,” “great commander,” and a “tough fighter.” He credited the General with being “extremely influential” in de-escalating the border war from the Pakistani side.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif: Trump publicly thanked the PM, stating, “I like him very much,” and acknowledged Sharif’s repeated praise for Trump’s diplomacy as the “saviour of South Asia.”
The “11 Jets” and the 200% Tariff Threat
In a characteristic retelling of the May 2025 India-Pakistan standoff (Operation Sindoor), Trump shared “behind-the-scenes” details of his intervention:
- The Claim: Trump alleged that 11 expensive jets were shot down during the skirmish before he stepped in.
- The Leverage: He claimed he ended the war by threatening both PM Modi and PM Sharif with 200% tariffs, essentially telling them, “I’m not doing trade deals with you two guys if you don’t settle this up.”
- The Result: Trump asserted that this pressure saved 25 million lives by preventing a nuclear escalation.
At the Gaza Board of Peace summit in Washington, Pakistan PM #ShehbazSharif praised US President #DonaldTrump as a “man of peace” and “savior of South Asia”, reviving disputed ceasefire claims involving India#boardofpeace #indiapak pic.twitter.com/72TEEbYbJa
— TheSouthAsianTimes (@TheSATimes) February 20, 2026
The $17 Billion Gaza Reconstruction Vision
Trump officially transitioned the Board of Peace from a ceasefire-monitoring group to a reconstruction powerhouse.
- Financial Pledges: * USA: $10 billion (pending Congressional approval).
- Regional Partners: $7 billion collectively from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, and others.
- FIFA: $75 million specifically for sports infrastructure and “stadiums of peace.”
- The Ultimate Goal: Trump spoke of turning Gaza into a “successful and safe” territory—even musing about a “Mediterranean Riviera” with 200 hotels—provided that Hamas follows through on its promise to disarm.
A New Global Order?
The meeting signaled Trump’s intention to use the Board of Peace to sideline the United Nations, which he described as “ineffectual.”
“We stopped 8 world wars… now we will end the 9th war (Iran) very soon,” Trump claimed, emphasizing that the Board is a “nimble and effective” alternative to traditional diplomacy.
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