Donald Trump has officially assumed the role of chairman of the Board of Peace, a new organization he is establishing to compete with the United Nations. The UK has opted out of joining the board, but former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair is said to be an executive member.
Initially intended to promote peace in the Middle East, concerns are rising that Trump is creating an authoritarian alternative to the United Nations. The proposed constitution would designate him as the lifelong chairman and grant him full control over the $1 billion membership fee required from permanent members.
Several nations that have already signed up are governed by right-wing authoritarian leaders, including Argentina, Bahrain, Egypt, Hungary, Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Notably absent from the group are America’s traditional European allies like France, Italy, Sweden, and the UK.
Yvette Cooper, the Foreign Secretary, expressed reservations about Russia’s involvement in the board led by the US President. The establishment of the board is part of Trump’s initiative to resolve the Israel-Hamas conflict, with a signing ceremony scheduled for today.
Of the 20 countries reported to have joined, only Argentina and Israel are classified as “free” according to the Freedom House’s 2025 Freedom in the World report. The majority of the remaining nations are deemed “not free” or “partly free,” indicating varying levels of political and civil rights restrictions.
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 launch event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump expressed confidence in the board’s potential success in Gaza and hinted at expanding its scope. He emphasized collaboration with the United Nations while criticizing its historical performance.
Trump acknowledged the involvement of multiple nations in establishing the Board of Peace and highlighted future cooperation with the United Nations.
