What is Trump’s Board of Peace, will it undermine the UN

Donald Trump, the United States president, on January 22, 2026, signed a document formally launching the Charter of the Board of Peace, establishing it as a new international organisation on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Speaking at the ceremony, Trump framed the initiative in sweeping terms.

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“Together we are in a position to end decades of suffering, stop generations of hatred and bloodshed, and forge a beautiful, everlasting, and glorious peace — for that region and for the whole region of the world.”

What is Trump’s Board of Peace?

The Board of Peace is neither treaty-based nor a traditional multilateral institution. Instead, it is a voluntary coalition of states, bound together by political commitments and financial contributions, operating under a single framework chaired by Trump himself.

“This Board has the chance to be one of the most consequential bodies ever created,” Trump said at its launch.

“It’s my enormous honour to serve as its Chairman. Today, the first steps toward a brighter day for the Middle East and a much safer future for the world are unfolding right before your very eyes.”

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Its stated purpose is threefold: promoting peacekeeping, overseeing ceasefires, and coordinating the reconstruction of war-ravaged regions. Gaza is its first and immediate test case following the Israel–Hamas ceasefire, though its charter allows the Board to expand into other conflict zones.

The idea was first proposed in September 2025 as part of a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war. That same month, the United Nations Security Council endorsed the creation of a transitional mechanism to oversee demilitarisation and rebuilding in the Gaza Strip, a political opening that helped pave the way for the Board’s emergence. Over the longer term, Trump has pitched the body as a global platform for promoting governance, security, and post-conflict recovery in fragile states.

Who formed it — and who leads it?

The Board was conceived and formed by Donald Trump, the United States president, who serves as its inaugural chairman. Its creation grew out of his broader Middle East peace strategy and was politically reinforced by UN backing for a post-war governance framework in Gaza — even though the Board itself sits outside formal UN structures.

Trump’s executive team blends political allies, former officials, and financial heavyweights. Key figures include Marco Rubio, US secretary of State; Jared Kushner, Trump adviser; Steve Witkoff, special envoy; and Robert Gabriel, deputy national security adviser. The executive board also includes Tony Blair, former UK prime minister, Ajay Banga, World Bank president, and Marc Rowan, chief executive of Apollo Global Management — highlighting the Board’s fusion of diplomacy, politics, and finance.

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When and where was it launched — and who attended?

The Board of Peace was unveiled in Davos during the World Economic Forum, giving it immediate global visibility. Trump signed the charter during a high-profile ceremony attended by representatives from around 19 countries.

Those present included officials from Argentina, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Hungary, Morocco, Bahrain, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. The absences were equally striking. Most major Western European allies — including France, Germany, and the UK — stayed away, citing concerns about duplication, legitimacy, and the Board’s relationship with the United Nations.

Who has joined — and who has stayed away?

Membership remains fluid, but estimates suggest around 25 to 27 countries have either formally joined or committed to participation, out of roughly 60 invited.

Confirmed or publicly cited members include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Türkiye, Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Hungary, Argentina, and El Salvador. Israel and Vietnam have indicated plans to join.

Canada, however, was notably excluded. Trump withdrew Ottawa’s invitation following a speech by Prime Minister Mark Carney at Davos, criticising Trump’s aggressive rhetoric over Greenland, a move widely interpreted as retaliatory.

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Speaking at the forum, Trump said the Board would be “very successful in Gaza” and that “we can spread out to other things as we succeed with Gaza”.

By contrast, much of Western Europe has declined involvement. Several NATO partners have publicly and privately questioned whether the Board risks weakening the UN’s authority by operating outside its established framework.

How does membership work?

Membership terms differ sharply from traditional international bodies. States can serve renewable three-year terms, but permanent membership is available to countries that contribute at least $1bn to the Board’s fund within its first year.

Critics argue this effectively turns influence into a commodity, privileging wealthy states and sidelining poorer ones, a sharp departure from the UN’s principle of sovereign equality.

Where is it based?

The Board’s administrative headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., underscoring the central role of the United States in its creation and leadership.

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Will it undermine the United Nations?

Officially, Trump says no.

He has repeatedly insisted the Board is meant to complement, not replace, the United Nations, and has said it will work “with many others, including the UN”. He has also emphasised that the UN should continue to exist alongside his initiative.

Analysts remain sceptical. The Board bypasses the UN Security Council, is not grounded in international treaties, and concentrates authority in a small executive group. If it expands beyond Gaza and begins operating in areas traditionally managed by UN peacekeeping and political missions, critics warn its very existence could dilute the UN’s central role in global peace and security.

Retired US ambassador Robert Wood, who served at the US mission to the UN under both Republican and Democratic administrations, questioned the Board’s broader appeal.

“If Trump is trying to replace the Security Council with a Board of Peace dealing with issues beyond Gaza, I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of interest,” Wood said.

He urged member states to focus instead on reforming existing institutions.
“Let’s try to work together to make the United Nations a better instrument. It really is the best instrument we have, given all its warts.”

UN officials have also sought to downplay concerns. Farhan Haq, UN deputy spokesperson, said it was unlikely that decades of multilateral peacebuilding involving more than 190 countries could be displaced.

“There have been any number of organisations — regional organisations, defence alliances and others — that have coexisted with the UN over the 80 years of its existence,” Haq said. “It’s too early to tell what the Board of Peace will look like.”

How is it being received globally?

Reaction to the Board has been sharply divided. Some governments in the Middle East and parts of the Global South view it as a practical alternative to stalled international processes, particularly for Gaza’s reconstruction.