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U.S. President Donald Trump has officially launched his proposed Board of Peace, an initiative originally aimed at supporting the fragile ceasefire in Gaza but one he says could eventually address broader global conflicts. The move has sparked concern among some U.S. allies, who fear the new body could encroach on the traditional role of the United Nations.
Announcing the initiative during an event held alongside the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the Board of Peace would work in cooperation with the UN and was not designed to replace existing multilateral institutions. He maintained that the United Nations still has “great potential” and argued that the new body could help strengthen international peace efforts.
Trump, who will serve as chairman of the board, said its mandate could expand beyond Gaza once it is fully established. That broader ambition has unsettled several countries, particularly long-standing U.S. allies, who worry the initiative could weaken the UN’s standing as the primary forum for global diplomacy and conflict resolution.
About 35 countries have so far signed on to the initiative, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina and Indonesia. Russia has indicated it is considering participation, while several Western nations remain cautious. France has declined to join, the United Kingdom said it is not participating for now, and China has yet to announce its position.
Trump said permanent members of the board would be required to contribute $1 billion each. No senior representatives from major global powers were visibly present at the signing ceremony. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow is reviewing the proposal and suggested that frozen Russian assets in the United States could potentially be used to fund its contribution, with support directed toward Palestinians.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the board’s immediate priority would be ensuring the implementation of the Gaza peace plan, while also serving as a framework that could be applied to other global conflicts. The board’s creation was endorsed through a UN Security Council resolution tied to Trump’s Gaza proposal, though the UN has said its involvement would be limited to that context.
While some democratic nations have joined the initiative, many participating countries are not democracies and are led by figures closely aligned with Trump’s diplomatic approach. Board members include Rubio, U.S. Gaza negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, as well as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Attention remains focused on the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Kushner said the next phase would prioritise funding reconstruction efforts and addressing the disarmament of Hamas, which he described as a major barrier to lasting peace. He noted that humanitarian assistance would be a key focus in the coming months, alongside efforts to build long-term stability.
There have been tentative signs of progress, with Palestinian officials saying the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is expected to reopen next week. However, the ceasefire agreed in October has faced repeated strains, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations related to hostages, aid access and ongoing violence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation to join the board, while Palestinian factions have endorsed the peace plan and supported the creation of a transitional Palestinian committee to govern Gaza under the board’s supervision. Even if the current truce holds, future talks will still need to address unresolved issues such as Hamas disarmament, Gaza’s security framework and a potential Israeli withdrawal.
