President Donald Trump has dramatically expanded his proposed Gaza Board of Peace into a comprehensive global organization that directly challenges the United Nations' traditional role in international conflict resolution. The new body comes with a staggering $1 billion fee for countries seeking permanent membership, according to a charter document circulated to potential member states.
A New Global Peace Architecture
The charter describes what it calls a "nimble and effective international peace-building body" with Trump serving as chairman and participating governments acting as member states. Originally announced last September as part of the Gaza cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the board has now grown far beyond its initial Middle East focus.
"Too many approaches to peace-building foster perpetual dependency, and institutionalize crisis rather than leading people beyond it," states the charter's preamble. It calls for "a coalition of willing States committed to practical cooperation and effective action."
Challenging Post-War Institutions
This expansive mandate highlights Trump's accelerating effort to replace the international system established by the United States after World War II. For years, Trump has criticized existing multilateral institutions as ineffective, and earlier this month he withdrew the U.S. from thirty-one UN agencies and bodies, claiming they operated "contrary to U.S. national interests."
Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa program at the European Council on Foreign Relations, observed the strategic implications. "It's hard not to read this as an attempt to establish a precedent in Gaza that could be used elsewhere in terms of saying that Trump is going to be calling the global shots here, and you either fall in line or you're not part of the process."
Membership Structure and Financial Requirements
The Board of Peace charter outlines specific membership terms. Countries agreeing to join can serve for a standard three-year term, but this limitation disappears for nations willing to contribute $1 billion in cash to the board's operations. The charter does not specify how these substantial fees will be utilized.
Approximately sixty governments have received invitations to participate, though most responses remain cautious and measured. The charter itself defines the organization's mission as seeking "to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict."
International Reactions and Responses
Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join Trump's Board of Peace, confirmed Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Monday. "Right now, we're studying the details of the offer and hoping to be in contact with the American side to clarify all the nuances," Peskov told state news agencies, without specifically addressing the $1 billion membership fee.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban took to social media platform X to announce he had been invited onto the board and had already accepted. Orban has positioned himself as one of the most vocal supporters of Trump's peace efforts in Ukraine. "We have, of course, accepted this honourable invitation," Orban declared.
In an invitation sent Friday to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Trump described the board as "a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE." Sisi has not yet responded to the invitation.
Concerns and Objections
Several Arab countries have expressed reservations about involving the board in conflicts beyond Gaza. Officials from these nations argue the organization should initially focus exclusively on implementing the Gaza peace plan before expanding its scope. They warn that creating an alternative global peace and security architecture under Trump's control carries significant risks.
Analysts note that China, Russia, France, and Britain—the four other major powers holding permanent seats on the UN Security Council with veto power—will likely resist replacing that established body with Trump's new board. Many other countries that view the UN as their primary international forum for influence expression remain at least equally skeptical.
Chairman's Extensive Authority
As chairman, Trump would wield considerable power over the new organization. He would possess authority to appoint and remove member states, maintain veto power over board decisions, and hold "exclusive authority" to create additional entities to carry out the board's mission.
The charter specifies that board decisions will be "made by a majority of the member states present and voting, subject to the approval of the chairman, who may also cast a vote in his capacity as chairman in the event of a tie."
The White House has not immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the charter document. The UN Security Council authorized the Board of Peace in November to oversee Gaza's postwar stabilization and reconstruction efforts, providing initial legitimacy to what has now evolved into a much broader diplomatic initiative.
