US President Donald Trump on Monday hailed a “tremendous day for the Middle East” as he and regional leaders signed a declaration aimed at cementing a ceasefire in Gaza, hours after Israel and Hamas exchanged hostages and prisoners.
At a summit held in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh and attended by more than two dozen world leaders, Trump and the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye signed the declaration as guarantors of the ceasefire agreement. The agreement came days after the world marked the second anniversary of Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian enclave that has claimed more than 67,000 lives.
At the opening of the summit, Trump signed a document with the leaders of Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye welcoming the agreements on Gaza and pledging to “work collectively to implement and sustain this legacy.”
Here are five highlights from the press conference held after the signing of the peace declaration.
Show of camaraderie between Pakistan and the United States and the ‘favorite’
In his remarks, the American president especially mentioned Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.
Thanking several world leaders, Trump also did the same for Pakistan, saying: “Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan, and I also have to say my favorite field marshal of Pakistan, who is not here, but the prime minister is here and they will greet him.
“Where are you?” he asked as he turned to look at the world leaders gathered behind. Noticing Prime Minister Shehbaz behind, Trump called him and asked him to say a few words.
For his part, Shehbaz took the opportunity to nominate Trump again for the Nobel Peace Prize.
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“I really feel that he is the most genuine and wonderful candidate for the peace prize because not only did he bring peace to South Asia, he saved the lives of millions of people and today, here in Sharm el-Sheikh, he brought peace to Gaza and saved millions of lives in the Middle East,” he said as the US president hovered over his shoulder.
Returning to the podium, Trump joked: “Wow! I wasn’t expecting that. Let’s go home, there’s nothing more to say. Goodbye everyone. That was really beautiful and beautifully phrased, thank you very much.”
Later, the US president also spoke of India, saying it was a “great country with a very good friend of mine at the top.”
“He’s just done a fantastic job and I think Pakistan and India are going to live very well together. Right?” he asked, turning to look at Prime Minister Shehbaz, who then laughed with the President of the United States.
The ‘beautiful’ Italian Prime Minister Meloni
The ceasefire in Gaza and the hostage release deal he helped negotiate had put Trump in remarkably good spirits, as he bantered with presidents and prime ministers in his usual close-to-the-bones style.
“They have very little crime,” he said admiringly when meeting co-hosted President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi of Egypt, whose country is regularly criticized for its rights record.
“A lot of cash. Unlimited cash,” Trump said with a smile when he met with the vice president of the United Arab Emirates and owner of the Manchester City soccer club, Sheikh Mansour.
“Tough,” he added, referring to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has cracked down on his critics.
But during the press conference he was even more direct.
“She’s beautiful,” he said of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The thrice-married 79-year-old admitted he risked accusations of sexism with comments about far-right leader Meloni, who was behind him on the podium during the press conference.
“I’m not allowed to say it because it’s usually the end of your political career if you say it; she’s a beautiful young woman,” Trump said in the middle of a speech about his Middle East peace efforts.
“If you use the word ‘beautiful’ in America to refer to a woman, it’s the end of your political career, but I’ll take my chances.”
Turning to address the 48-year-old, Trump said, “You don’t mind being called beautiful, do you? Because you are.”
Meloni’s immediate reaction could not be seen, as Trump’s back was between her and the cameras. Trump went on to call Meloni, an ideological ally on immigration and cultural issues, “incredible.”
“And in Italy they respect her a lot. It is a very successful policy,” he added. Meloni was the only woman among about 30 leaders gathered on the stage behind Trump for the summit.
Apparent discomfort with the British Starmer
Going down a list of countries he wanted to thank during the press conference, Trump also talked about the United Kingdom.
“United Kingdom. Where is the United Kingdom?” he asked, turning to look at the leaders gathered behind him. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised his hand and Trump told him to “come here.”
“Is everything okay?” Trump asked Starmer, who stepped forward to shake his hand. But the US president did not ask Starmer to speak, as he had asked Prime Minister Shehbaz, and returned to the podium to continue his remarks as Starmer returned to line.
Absence of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu
The summit was attended by more than two dozen world leaders, including Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas representatives were absent.
But there seems to be some controversy surrounding the absence of Israel’s leader. Netanyahu’s office had stated that he would not attend the summit after Cairo earlier announced it would participate, a prospect that may have been uncomfortable for some confirmed guests.
In a statement, Netanyahu’s office said Trump had invited him to participate, but he declined “due to the timing’s proximity to the beginning of a (Jewish) holiday.”
“The Prime Minister thanked President Trump for his invitation and for his efforts to expand the circle of peace through strength,” the statement said.
A Turkish official said Reuters that Turkiye President Tayyip Erdogan, with the support of other unspecified leaders, diplomatically rejected the idea of Netanyahu attending. Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the issue.
The presence of FIFA
Meanwhile, in a strange turn of events, it emerged that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was also part of the summit in Egypt and was alongside world leaders during the press conference held after the signing of the document.
Trump also mentioned Infantino in his remarks. As he thanked Norway and looked behind him for his leader, Trump saw Infantino standing at the other end and said, “Well, we’ve got Gianni. We’re going to the World Cup, I can tell you that.”
Inside FIFAThe official site of the international governing body reported that Infantino highlighted the importance of the day in statements following the signing of the document.
“Well, when you talk about a historic day, this definitely was and is a historic day,” Infantino said.
“A historic day for the Middle East, a historic day for the world, a historic day for peace. A new beginning, as President Trump said, a new dawn for the entire region, for the entire world. It is something really important for FIFA to be here to support, help, assist, make ourselves available for everything we can do to ensure that this peace process comes to fruition and has the best possible ending,” he said.
Banner image: US President Donald Trump delivers a speech during the Gaza Peace Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh on October 13. — AFP
