Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani are taking part on Thursday in the inaugural meeting of the Peace Board in Washington, an international initiative announced by U.S. President Donald Trump aimed at coordinating efforts to end the conflict in the Gaza Strip and support post-war reconstruction.
The meeting comes as diplomats and security officials seek to define mechanisms for implementing a ceasefire, delivering humanitarian aid and establishing a multinational stabilisation force in Gaza after more than two years of devastating fighting.
U.S. officials said participating countries have pledged more than $5 billion in initial funding for reconstruction and emergency assistance, while warning that actual needs will be significantly higher due to widespread infrastructure damage and the humanitarian crisis.
Albania Participates as Founding State
The Albanian government said Rama travelled to Washington at Trump’s invitation to attend the Board’s formal launch, with Albania regarded as a founding participant in the initiative.
Rama has previously stated that Tirana will not make financial contributions for membership but will engage politically and diplomatically in the platform.
“Albania will not contribute money to join or remain a permanent member, but contributes with dignity and with what has earned it international respect,” he said in an official statement.
Kosovo’s Role and Diplomatic Dimension
An adviser to Kosovo’s presidency confirmed Osmani’s participation, saying Pristina views the engagement as part of its strategic cooperation with the United States and as an opportunity to contribute to international peace and stability efforts.
Kosovo’s presidency said the country remains committed to working with international partners for “concrete results” in conflict-affected areas, adding that it has not been asked to provide financial contributions to join the mechanism.
Foreign policy analysts say participation in multilateral initiatives could help raise the international profile of Kosovo, which is still not a member of several major global organisations.
Stabilisation Force Under Consideration
Authorities in Pristina confirmed they are reviewing possible ways and capacities to contribute to a proposed international stabilisation force expected to deploy to Gaza to guarantee security and monitor a ceasefire.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said any potential involvement of the Kosovo Security Force would be coordinated fully with strategic partners and aligned with an international mandate.
Operational details of the force have not been made public, but U.S. officials have indicated it could include thousands of troops from several participating countries, focusing on stabilising security conditions and enabling civil administration and reconstruction.
A New Platform Outside Traditional Frameworks
The Peace Board was established on Jan. 22 in Davos, Switzerland, and consists of 27 members, intended to function as a political and financial platform for managing the post-conflict phase.
The initiative forms part of a broader diplomatic plan presented by the U.S. administration to end the war and introduce a new model of international cooperation for addressing global crises.
The Washington meeting is expected to gather more than 45 state delegations and representatives of international organisations. Participants expected to attend include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, diplomatic sources said.
However, some countries have voiced reservations about the structure and representation of the forum, raising concerns over the absence of Palestinian actors and its relationship to the traditional role of the United Nations in peace processes.
Conflict Background and Challenges Ahead
The war began in October 2023 when Hamas militants carried out an हमला on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking hostages, according to Israeli authorities.
Israel’s subsequent offensive in Gaza has caused tens of thousands of deaths, mass displacement and extensive destruction of infrastructure, according to humanitarian sources.
Diplomats say the main challenges now include disarming militant groups, establishing a functioning civilian administration and securing long-term funding for reconstruction.
For Albania, Kosovo and other participating countries, the Peace Board’s first meeting is seen as a test of international political will to move from a ceasefire toward durable stability.