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Could Trump’s Board of Peace Sideline the United Nations?
MLN -23 JAN 2026:President Donald Trump’s launch of a new international body known as the Board of Peace has raised questions among diplomats and governments about whether the initiative could marginalize the United Nations, which has struggled in recent years to mediate major global conflicts.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, Trump outlined the board’s ambitions in sweeping terms.
“Together we are in a position to… end decades of suffering, stop generations of hatred and bloodshed, and forge a beautiful, everlasting and glorious peace for that region and for the whole region of the world,” Trump said.
The board, which Trump will chair for life under a draft charter that has circulated among diplomats, emerged from U.S. led efforts last year to help broker an end to the war in Gaza. That initiative was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution. The board’s scope has since expanded well beyond Gaza, according to officials familiar with the proposal.
Leaked details of the charter indicate the chairman would hold broad authority, including the power to invite or exclude member states, create or dissolve subsidiary bodies, and appoint a successor. Countries seeking permanent membership would be required to pay $1 billion (£740 million), according to the draft.
Nineteen countries attended the board’s inauguration in Davos, including Argentina, Azerbaijan and several Gulf states. Other nations have indicated interest but have not formally committed.
Some governments have declined. Sweden said it would not join, as the text stands right now. Norway said the proposal raises unanswered questions that require further dialogue with Washington. The United Kingdom expressed concerns about the potential inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“This is about a treaty that raises much broader issues, and we do also have concerns about President Putin being part of something that is talking about peace,” UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said.
Trump has suggested the board could operate alongside or potentially instead of the United Nations.
President Vladimir PutinThe UN, which has 193 member states, has faced criticism over its inability to resolve conflicts amid Security Council divisions. Secretary-General António Guterres recently warned against replacing international law with power politics, saying “there are those that believe the power of law should be replaced by the law of power.”
Former UN humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said Trump’s initiative reflects frustration with existing mechanisms but cautioned against exclusivity.
“What we’ve learned over these last 80 years… is the value of inclusion, of being representative of the global community,” Griffiths said.
Supporters of the board point to Trump’s role in brokering recent ceasefires, including an agreement that halted fighting between Israel and Hamas last October. Critics note that some ceasefires credited to Trump have since collapsed, including agreements involving Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The board’s first major test is expected to involve Gaza, where advancing from the initial ceasefire phase remains difficult. The body’s structure includes an Executive Board, a Gaza Executive Board and a National Committee for Gaza’s administration, involving U.S. officials, regional leaders and Palestinian technocrats.
Questions also remain over Ukraine, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky having resisted talks that include Moscow and Minsk.
Even some critics acknowledge the board has renewed debate over reforming global institutions. Former UN deputy secretary-general Mark Malloch Brown said the initiative could force renewed attention on restructuring the post-war international order.
As Trump continues to promote the board, its impact on the UN and whether it complements or competes with existing institutions remains uncertain.
“This is for the world,” Trump said.
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