Morocco's King Mohammed VI has become the latest leader to accept an invitation to join US President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace", as Russian President Vladimir Putin weighs up his invitation.
The US-led body aims to contribute to "lasting peace, stability, reconstruction, and prosperity" in the Middle East, the White House says.
On Monday, the Moroccan foreign ministry said the country's king had "graciously accepted" the offer to become a founding member of the board, according to a statement published by the state-owned news agency, Maghreb Arab Presse.
King Mohammed welcomes "the commitment and vision of Donald Trump for promoting peace," the ministry reportedly said. "Morocco will ratify the founding charter of this board."
The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, but its charter does not appear to limit its role to the Palestinian territory.
The board's charter — seen by AFP and Reuters — says that member countries represented on the board by their head of state or government would be allowed to join for three years or longer if they paid more than US$1 billion within the first year.
The White House has asked various world leaders to sit on the board, chaired by Mr Trump, including Mr Putin.
The Russian president, now nearly four years into Russia's war with Ukraine, has not yet announced whether he will accept.
Russia is seeking to "clarify all the nuances" of the offer with Washington, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told AFP, without adding if Mr Putin is inclined to join.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and French President Emmanuel Macron have also received invitations but have not yet announced whether they will accept.
Speaking to ABC Sydney Radio on Monday, Mr Albanese said he had not yet had time to "give proper consideration" to the offer.
Meanwhile, a source close to the French president told AFP he "does not intend to answer favourably" to Mr Trump's invitation.
The source said the peace board "goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza".
"It raises major questions, particularly regarding respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, which under no circumstances can be called into question," they told AFP.
Russia and France are permanent members of the UN Security Council.
Earlier on Monday, the French foreign ministry issued a statement reiterating France's commitment to the UN.
"This remains the keystone of effective multilateralism, where international law, the sovereign equality of states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes prevail over arbitrariness, power politics and war," it said.
The ministry added it was reviewing the proposed legal framework of the board with its partners, raising concern that the "project extends beyond the situation in Gaza".
The source close to the French president, however, noted that France "remains fully committed to a ceasefire in Gaza and to a credible political horizon for Palestinians and Israelis".
Earlier this week, the White House released the names of the senior executives who will be expected to work with this new "Board of Peace".
The names included US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Mr Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
ABC/wires
