Davos, Switzerland – U.S. President Donald Trump launched the Board of Peace (BoP) on January 22, 2026, during a high-profile signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum, positioning it as a dynamic alternative to the United Nations for global conflict mediation. Originally conceived last September as part of his 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan—endorsed by UN Security Council Resolution 2803—the BoP has rapidly expanded beyond Gaza reconstruction to address "whatever we choose," per Trump, including Ukraine, energy crises, and broader instability.

Creation and Purpose

Trump created the BoP to bypass what he calls the UN's "ineffective bureaucracy," criticizing it for failing to deliver actionable results despite decades of resolutions. "The United Nations never helped me," he stated on January 20, echoing sentiments from his Davos address where he touted U.S.-led successes like countering Iran and al-Baghdadi. The 11-page charter, silent on Gaza specifics, outlines "peace-building functions in accordance with international law," with Trump as indefinite chairman controlling finances and revocations. Permanent membership requires a $1 billion voluntary contribution, framed as support for reconstruction but enabling "pay-to-play" influence—aligning with Trump's deal-making foreign policy.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized its "limitless" action-oriented mandate: "This is not merely a Board of Peace; it is a board of action." Tied to Gaza's Phase 2 (hostage releases, Israeli withdrawal), it mobilizes resources faster than UN processes, per White House statements, while a parallel Gaza Executive Board handles transitional governance.

Key Players Involved

Trump chairs alongside a "founding executive council": Rubio, son-in-law Jared Kushner, special envoy Steve Witkoff, U.S. deputy national security adviser Gabriel Noronha, World Bank Group's Ajaya Banga, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, and former UK PM Tony Blair. Leaders flanking Trump at the signing included Argentina's Javier Milei, Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev, Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto, Bahrain's Salman bin Hamad, and Morocco's Aziz Akhannouch.

Up to 35 of 50-60 invited nations accepted: UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, Indonesia, Israel (Netanyahu joined post-criticism), Hungary, Pakistan, Kuwait, and a joint Arab bloc (Egypt, Jordan, UAE, Indonesia, Turkey, Saudi, Qatar). Russia eyes $1 billion from frozen assets; Putin is considering amid Palestinian aid talks.

Holdouts and Tensions

China, key EU states (Germany, France), Brazil, South Africa, and Iran have not accepted invitations, citing sovereignty concerns and UN primacy. Reports note Beijing's wariness of U.S.-dominated funding; European hesitance stems from NATO critiques in Trump's speech. Netanyahu initially resisted a subordinate committee but relented.

Overshadowing the UN

Trump seeks to eclipse the UN by offering speed, accountability, and results over veto-prone debates—leveraging his dealmaker image and allies' rapport. Critics see it as unilateralism, but backers praise bypassing "endless talk" for reconstruction (Gaza focus) and global hotspots. With 25+ nations committed and Davos buzz, BoP challenges multilateralism, potentially reshaping diplomacy if funding flows. Watch the full ceremony here.