Isolated but undeterred, Donald Trump has doubled down on his hardline stance. At the inaugural meeting of his controversial "Board of Peace," the US President demanded Iran’s immediate nuclear disarmament, even as traditional Western allies conspicuously snubbed the summit in Washington.

The event was surreal: a US President outlining the future of global security to a room largely devoid of Europe’s major powers. The UK, Germany, and France declined invitations, wary of the Board’s mandate to bypass the UN in overseeing Gaza’s reconstruction. Yet, Trump plowed ahead, framing the Iranian nuclear program as the singular existential threat to peace in the Middle East, ignoring the diplomatic vacuum his initiative has created.

A Fractured Alliance

The absence of key NATO allies speaks volumes. Europe views the "Board of Peace" as a parallel structure designed to undermine international institutions. Trump, however, dismissed the boycott, focusing instead on a $5 billion reconstruction pledge for Gaza—a figure that pales in comparison to the estimated $70 billion damage. His rhetoric was combative, signaling that the US is prepared to act alone against Tehran if necessary.

• The Iran Ultimatum: Trump repeated his warning that Iran must cease all enrichment activities, a demand that Tehran has already rejected as "bullying."
• Gaza’s Future: The Board is tasked with demilitarizing Gaza, but with no Palestinian representation at the table, its legitimacy is already in tatters.
• The Lancet Bombshell: The summit coincided with a shocking Lancet report estimating 75,000 deaths in Gaza, a toll far higher than official counts, casting a grim shadow over the proceedings.

Diplomacy by Diktat

"We are building peace through strength," Trump announced, standing before a flag that now seems to represent a divided West. "Iran will bend, or they will break."

As the delegates applauded, the reality outside the room was starkly different. The US is drifting further from its oldest allies, and the "Board of Peace" risks becoming a board of isolation, driving a wedge between America and the world it seeks to lead.