Trump Invites Erdogan to Join Founding Council of Gaza Peace Board

US President Donald Trump has formally invited Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to serve as a founding member of a newly created international body, the “Board of Peace for Gaza,” aimed at guiding post-conflict security and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip.

The invitation was conveyed in a letter dated January 16, 2026, in which Trump, acting as the founding chair of the board, acknowledged Türkiye’s strategic influence and humanitarian role in the Middle East. The move signals a significant diplomatic outreach by Washington as it seeks broader regional participation in stabilising Gaza.

According to Turkish Communications Director Burhanettin Duran, the Board of Peace is part of the implementation framework for the US-backed “Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict,” which recently led to a ceasefire. The plan received endorsement from the United Nations Security Council through Resolution 2803.

Duran said the board and its affiliated bodies will be responsible for overseeing security arrangements and coordinating extensive reconstruction efforts in Gaza following the prolonged conflict.

The invitation highlights Türkiye’s position as a key regional actor, a NATO member, and a longstanding supporter of the Palestinian cause. President Erdogan has repeatedly presented Türkiye as a mediator and major humanitarian contributor in the region.

Analysts say Türkiye’s inclusion as a founding member is intended to enhance the legitimacy and effectiveness of the US-led initiative, while ensuring the involvement of a regional power with deep political, historical and cultural ties to the Gaza issue.

Erdogan’s response to the offer is expected to draw close attention, as acceptance would place Türkiye at the centre of shaping Gaza’s future, from security planning to reconstruction, and could mark a new phase of coordination between Ankara and Washington on Middle East diplomacy.