EXPLAINER: What is Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ and who has agreed to join it?

US President Donald Trump has launched a new international initiative known as the “Board of Peace”, an entity he says is designed to help resolve conflicts and rebuild war-torn regions, beginning with Gaza.

The plan has drawn cautious support from some allies, outright rejection from others and warnings from diplomats and experts that it could weaken the role of the United Nations.

How did the Board of Peace come about?

The board originates from Trump’s 20-point peace plan for Gaza, unveiled last year, which led to a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that came into force in October.

In mid-November, the United Nations Security Council adopted a resolution that authorised the Board of Peace, alongside cooperating states, to help establish an international stabilisation force and support post-war arrangements in Gaza. Under that mandate, the board was intended to oversee temporary governance and reconstruction efforts in the enclave.

What is its original mandate?

Under Trump’s Gaza plan, the Board of Peace was conceived as a transitional mechanism to supervise post-war governance, coordinate reconstruction and support security arrangements following the ceasefire.

Reuters has reported that the truce has remained fragile, with continued casualties reported since it began.

Why is it controversial?

Trump has since said the Board of Peace could be expanded to address conflicts beyond Gaza, a move that has unsettled diplomats and allies who say its remit risks overlapping with, or even rivaling, the United Nations.

When asked whether the board was meant to replace the UN, Trump said it “might”, before adding that the UN should be allowed to continue, while criticising it for failing to live up to its potential.

Several governments and international law experts have warned that any expansion beyond Gaza would go beyond the mandate approved by the UN Security Council.

Who is on the board?

The White House has named a group of senior figures who will sit on the board, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, former British prime minister Tony Blair and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.

In parallel, Trump has sent invitations to dozens of countries to join the board as member states. Membership is structured separately from individual appointments.

What is the $1 billion membership issue?

A draft charter circulated to invited countries states that members would normally serve for three-year terms. However, countries that contribute $1 billion in cash within the first year can retain permanent membership.

The provision has triggered criticism from diplomats and analysts, who question whether financial contributions should determine long-term influence over peace and security decisions.

US officials say any funds would be directed toward reconstruction efforts, including in Gaza, though detailed plans have not been finalised.

Which countries have accepted?

Several countries have confirmed their participation.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted Trump’s invitation on Wednesday, with his office saying the board was initially aimed at ending the Gaza conflict and could later be expanded.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have also accepted invitations, describing their participation as support for the implementation of Trump’s Gaza peace plan. Belarus has confirmed it has joined as well.

Other countries, including Morocco and Hungary, have also signalled acceptance, while several others say they are still reviewing the offer.

Who has pushed back?

France has declined to join, citing concerns that the board’s charter goes beyond Gaza and raises serious questions about respect for the UN system. Norway has said it will not participate in the initiative in its current form.

China, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt and several other countries have confirmed receiving invitations but have not committed. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said it would be difficult to envisage sitting on the same body as Russia while Moscow’s war in Ukraine continues.

Why does it matter now?

The Board of Peace has become entangled in wider diplomatic tensions, including disputes between Washington and European allies over Trump’s push to acquire Greenland.

Reuters reported that disagreements over Greenland and the Board of Peace disrupted discussions on a proposed economic support package for post-war Ukraine that had been expected to be unveiled around the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Trump is due to preside over a ceremony linked to the Board of Peace during the Davos meetings, even as governments weigh whether the initiative can coexist with the United Nations or risks fragmenting the global system for managing conflicts.

-With Reuters