Trump Unveils Controversial ‘Board of Peace’ With $1bn Entry Fee
US President Donald Trump on Thursday formally launched his controversial “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, unveiling a new international body with a $1 billion membership fee and a broad mandate that has drawn both support and scepticism from key global players.
The launch ceremony featured leaders and senior officials from 19 countries who joined Trump on stage to sign the board’s founding charter. Among them were close allies of the US president, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Trump, who will serve as chairman of the Board of Peace, described the signatories as “in most cases very popular leaders, some cases not so popular,” adding that such differences were part of international life.
Originally conceived to oversee peace efforts in Gaza following the war between Hamas and Israel, the board’s charter outlines a broader ambition to help resolve international conflicts. This expanded role has raised concerns among critics who fear the new body could seek to rival the United Nations.
Trump, however, dismissed such claims, insisting the organisation would work “in conjunction” with the UN.
The board’s proposed membership has proved contentious, particularly following Trump’s invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country invaded Ukraine nearly four years ago. Trump said Putin had agreed to join, though the Russian leader later stated he was still reviewing the invitation.
Permanent membership also requires a $1 billion fee, prompting criticism that the board could become a “pay-to-play” version of the UN Security Council.
Key US allies, including the United Kingdom and France, declined to participate in the signing ceremony. The UK confirmed it would not attend, citing reservations about the board’s structure and objectives.
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Countries represented at the ceremony included Bahrain, Morocco, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has indicated his intention to join the board, was absent from the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the board’s immediate focus would be “first and foremost on making sure that this peace deal in Gaza becomes enduring.”
Trump, however, issued a stern warning to Hamas, saying the group must disarm under the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement or face what he described as “the end of them.”
The board’s unveiling comes amid Trump’s long-standing frustration over his failure to secure the Nobel Peace Prize, despite his claims of helping to resolve multiple international conflicts.
Following the ceremony, Trump was scheduled to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Davos to discuss prospects for a ceasefire in Ukraine. The inclusion of Putin in the board has heightened concern in Kyiv, where officials fear the initiative could undermine Ukraine’s position in ongoing peace efforts.
Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, told reporters in Davos that negotiations to end the Ukraine war had made “a lot of progress” and were now down to a single unresolved issue, which he declined to specify.
Witkoff said he would travel to Moscow later in the day to meet Putin, before heading to Abu Dhabi for what he described as “military-to-military” talks.
Meanwhile, Zelensky has expressed concern that Trump’s recent push to renegotiate aspects of US engagement over Greenland and transatlantic relations could distract from efforts to counter Russia’s invasion.
Trump said on Wednesday that he had reached a “framework of a future deal” with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, adding that he would waive tariffs scheduled to take effect on European allies on February 1. He did not provide further details.
The launch of the Board of Peace has intensified debate among diplomats and analysts, with supporters viewing it as a bold attempt to reshape global peace-building, while critics warn it risks deepening divisions in an already strained international system.
By PRNigeria
