Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Wednesday that Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will represent Turkey on US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace,” aimed at resolving conflicts, the Anka news agency reported.
Erdoğan made the comment after a parliamentary group meeting of his ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), responding briefly to a reporter’s question about whether he will personally take part in the Gaza-focused peace body proposed by Trump.
“Mr Fidan will attend,” Erdoğan said, without elaborating.
The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, which has been under a fragile ceasefire since October, but the charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.
According to the charter, seen by Agence France-Presse, the Board of Peace will seek to promote stability, restore governance and secure lasting peace in conflict-affected or threatened regions, operating in accordance with international law. Member states will be invited by Trump and represented by their head of state or government.
Under the proposed structure, Trump will serve as chairman with broad authority over the organization’s agenda and internal structure. Member states will generally serve three-year terms, but countries contributing $1 billion within the first year will be exempt from the term limit, effectively securing permanent membership.
Erdoğan’s statement came a day after his far-right ally, Devlet Bahçeli, said Erdoğan should serve as chairman of the body, arguing that Turkey should lead international efforts on Gaza and the Palestinian issue.
“On the issue of Palestine and Gaza, the chairman of the Board of Peace should be Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,” Bahceli said during a party meeting on Tuesday. “Peace should begin with Turkey.”
Turkey had previously said it was still reviewing the proposal. In a statement on Tuesday, Fidan said Ankara was examining the board’s legal framework and mandate, adding that Erdoğan would make a decision shortly.
Diplomats in several countries have expressed caution about the initiative, warning it could undermine the United Nations and existing international mechanisms for conflict resolution. France has said it will not join, while dozens of other countries, including China, India, Russia, Ukraine and Canada, have confirmed receiving invitations, according to AFP.
Erdoğan’s decision to delegate representation to Fidan appears to signal Turkey’s willingness to engage with the initiative while stopping short of committing the president himself to a formal role.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted an invitation to join the board, his office said on Wednesday.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he has accepted US President Donald Trump’s invitation and will join as a member of the Board of Peace, which will be composed of leaders of the world,” the office said in a statement.
While announcing the creation of the board last week, Trump also unveiled plans to establish a “Gaza Executive Board” operating under the body.
The executive board would include Turkey’s Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.
Netanyahu has strongly objected to their inclusion.
Ties between Turkey and Israel have deteriorated since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 following an unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel.
A separate committee of 15 Palestinian technocrats has also been formed to oversee the day-to-day administration of Gaza as part of the second phase of a truce plan announced by Trump in October.
The committee, led by Gaza native and former Palestinian Authority deputy minister Ali Shaath, commenced its initial work in Cairo this week.