Donald Trump has officially positioned himself as the head of the newly established Board of Peace, intended to compete with the United Nations.
While the United Kingdom declined to join the initiative today, it is reported that former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair holds a position on the board.
Initially focused on promoting peace in the Middle East, concerns are rising that Trump is creating an autocratic alternative to the United Nations. A preliminary constitution proposes Trump as a lifelong chairman with full control over the $1 billion membership fee required from permanent members.
The majority of current signatories are governed by right-wing authoritarian leaders, often referred to as ‘strongmen’. Notable participants include Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.
However, no traditional European allies of the US, such as France, Italy, Sweden, and the UK, have opted to be part of the coalition.
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, expressed reservations about Russia’s involvement in the board initiated by the US President. Trump aims to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict through this board, with a signing ceremony scheduled for today.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Ms. Cooper stated, “We will not be among the initial signatories today as this treaty raises broader concerns, particularly regarding President Putin’s participation in a peace initiative when no concrete peace efforts in Ukraine have been observed.”
Out of the 20 nations reportedly onboard, only two, Argentina and Israel, are classified as “free” according to Freedom House’s 2025 report. The remaining countries are either ‘not free’ with severe restrictions on rights and liberties or ‘partly free’ with limited political freedoms and constraints on civil liberties.
The executive committee of the board includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel.
During the board’s launch at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump expressed confidence in the initiative, aiming to resolve the Gaza situation first and then expand into other areas. He emphasized collaboration with the United Nations while highlighting the uniqueness of combining efforts with the new Board of Peace.
Trump acknowledged the involvement of various nations in establishing the board and signaled a willingness to engage with the United Nations in future endeavors.
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