Trump invites President Erdogan to be founding member of Gaza peace board

US President Donald Trump has formally invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to join as a founding member of the new international "Board of Peace for Gaza." The invitation acknowledges Türkiye's critical role in the post-conflict reconstruction and security framework.

U.S. President Donald Trump, acting as the founding chair of a newly established international body for Gaza, has extended a formal invitation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to become a founding member. The invitation, detailed in a letter dated January 16, 2026, represents a significant diplomatic outreach by Washington, recognizing Ankara's pivotal influence and humanitarian role in the Middle East.

An Institution Born from a UN-Backed Plan

The new "Board of Peace" is being established as part of the implementation mechanism for the U.S.-announced "Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict." This plan, which led to a recent ceasefire, received formal backing from the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 2803. According to Turkish Communications Director Burahanettin Duran, the Board and its subsidiary bodies are tasked with overseeing the security and massive reconstruction efforts required in the Gaza Strip following the devastating war.

Türkiye's Strategic Role in Post-War Gaza

The invitation underscores Türkiye's unique position as a major Muslim-majority nation, a NATO member with substantial diplomatic weight, and a longstanding advocate for the Palestinian cause. President Erdogan has consistently positioned Türkiye as a key mediator and humanitarian actor in the region. By seeking Ankara's direct involvement as a founding member, the U.S.-led initiative aims to lend greater regional legitimacy and operational capacity to the peace and reconstruction board, ensuring it has the backing of a critical regional power with deep historical and cultural ties to the issue.

A Critical Juncture for Regional Diplomacy

The offer places President Erdogan and Türkiye at a strategic crossroads. Acceptance would grant Türkiye a direct seat at the table in shaping Gaza's future, from security arrangements to rebuilding, aligning with its goals of regional stability and Palestinian welfare. It would also signal a new phase of coordination between Ankara and Washington on a core Middle Eastern challenge. The decision will be closely watched as a barometer of Türkiye's foreign policy direction and its willingness to engage in a U.S.-spearheaded framework, balancing its independent stance with pragmatic diplomacy to secure tangible outcomes for Gaza.