U.S. President Donald Trump has formally launched his Board of Peace, an initiative originally aimed at reinforcing the fragile ceasefire in Gaza but which he says could later expand to tackle broader global challenges. The move has raised concerns among some allies that the body could undermine the role of the United Nations.
Speaking at the launch on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump said the board would work alongside the UN and was not intended to replace existing multilateral institutions. He added that the United Nations had “great potential” that had yet to be fully realised, arguing that the new body could complement its efforts.
Trump, who will chair the board, said that once fully established it would have the authority to address international issues beyond Gaza. That ambition has unsettled several countries, particularly long-standing U.S. allies, who fear an expanded mandate could weaken the UN’s standing as the central forum for global diplomacy and conflict resolution.
So far, around 35 countries have pledged to take part, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Argentina, and Indonesia. Russia has said it is considering joining, while a number of Western nations have adopted a cautious stance. France has declined to participate, the United Kingdom said it would not join 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. However, there were no immediately visible representatives from major global powers at the signing ceremony. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow was reviewing the proposal and suggested that frozen Russian assets in the United States could be used to fund its contribution in support of 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 potential model for resolving other conflicts. The board’s creation was endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza initiative, with the UN stating that its involvement would remain limited to that framework.
While several democracies have joined the initiative, many participating countries are not democratic. Supporters include leaders aligned with Trump’s diplomatic approach. Board members include Rubio, U.S. Gaza negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Focus remains on the fragile ceasefire in Gaza. Kushner said the next phase would concentrate on funding reconstruction and addressing the disarmament of Hamas, which he described as a major obstacle to progress. He added that the coming months would prioritise humanitarian assistance while laying the groundwork for longer-term stability.
There have been signs of limited progress, with Palestinian officials saying the Rafah border crossing with Egypt is expected to reopen next week. However, the ceasefire agreed in October has come under repeated strain, with Israel and Hamas accusing each other of violations involving hostages, aid access, and continued 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 formation of a transitional Palestinian committee to administer Gaza under the board’s oversight. Even if the current truce holds, future talks will need to address long-standing issues, including Hamas’s disarmament, security arrangements in Gaza, and a potential Israeli withdrawal.
