U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a new diplomatic initiative known as the “Board of Peace,” aimed at resolving conflicts worldwide, but the project has already exposed sharp divisions among Washington’s allies and raised concerns about its impact on the United Nations.
Trump first proposed the Board of Peace last September as part of his plan to end the Gaza war. He later expanded its remit beyond Gaza to address other global conflicts. According to a draft charter seen by Reuters, Trump will serve as the board’s inaugural chairman, with broad executive powers including the ability to veto decisions and remove members.
The White House has named U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to the founding Executive Board. Member states would normally serve three-year terms, but countries can secure permanent membership by contributing $1 billion each to fund the board’s activities.
Who has joined
A senior White House official said around 35 world leaders have committed to joining the board out of roughly 50 invitations sent. Those accepting include Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and Egypt, as well as NATO members Turkey and Hungary. Other participants include Morocco, Pakistan, Indonesia, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Paraguay and Vietnam.
View this post on Instagram
Armenia and Azerbaijan, which signed a U.S.-brokered peace deal last August, have also agreed to join. More controversially, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has accepted an invitation, despite long-standing Western criticism of his human rights record and support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Russia and China, both veto-wielding members of the U.N. Security Council, have not said whether they will participate. Trump, who frequently criticises the United Nations, has denied the board is intended to replace it, saying the U.N. should be allowed to continue because of its “great potential.”
Who has declined or hesitated
Several close U.S. allies have responded cautiously or declined outright. Norway and Sweden have rejected the invitation, while France intends not to join, prompting Trump to threaten steep tariffs on French wines and champagne. Italy has also expressed reservations, with concerns reported that joining could violate its constitution.
Britain said it would not sign the Board of Peace treaty, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper citing worries about possible Russian involvement. Germany and Japan have yet to take a clear public stance, and Ukraine said it is examining the proposal, though President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it is hard to imagine serving on any board that includes Russia.
Canada initially agreed “in principle” to join, but Trump withdrew the invitation after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the use of tariffs and economic pressure at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Trump later said permanent members must pay $1 billion each, adding: “Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do.”
Pope Leo, the first U.S. pontiff, has also been invited and is evaluating the proposal, the Vatican said.
Powers and limits
The U.N. Security Council in November endorsed the Board of Peace only through 2027 and solely in relation to Gaza. The resolution authorized the board to coordinate funding for Gaza’s redevelopment under Trump’s peace plan and to deploy a temporary international stabilization force, while requiring reports to the Security Council every six months.
Beyond Gaza, it remains unclear what legal authority or enforcement tools the Board of Peace will have, or how it will operate alongside existing international institutions. While its charter says it will carry out peace-building functions “in accordance with international law,” diplomats and analysts say its long-term role remains uncertain as it begins to take shape.
