US President Donald Trump has launched an international body he calls the “Board of Peace,” a sweeping new initiative that blends post-war reconstruction, diplomacy and executive power under a single chairmanship. Formally ratified in January in Davos, the board is intended to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza after a ceasefire — but its charter reaches far beyond the Middle East, positioning it as a potential rival or parallel to existing international institutions.
Supporters describe it as an ambitious attempt to break stalemates that have long paralysed global diplomacy. Critics warn that it concentrates unprecedented authority in one individual and risks undermining the United Nations system that Malta and other small states rely on.
From Gaza reconstruction to global ambition
The Board of Peace was formally established in January 2026, following endorsement by the UN Security Council through Resolution 2803. That resolution welcomed the board’s initial mandate: to oversee the peaceful reconstruction and short-term governance of Gaza after the latest ceasefire, with authorisation running until 2027.
Yet the charter ratified by Mr Trump on January 22, in Davos, Switzerland, goes further. It expands the organisation’s remit to include global conflict resolution, peacekeeping initiatives and post-war governance frameworks well beyond Gaza.
In effect, what began as a project with a narrow geographical focus has been reengineered into a standing international body, positioned to intervene wherever its chairman and members see fit.
A chairman with sweeping powers
At the centre of the board sits Donald Trump himself, appointed as chairman with no term limit and designated a lifetime member. Under the charter, the chairman holds exclusive authority to appoint and dismiss board members, set agendas, issue resolutions and approve changes to the organisation’s founding document.
This structure, critics argue, resembles a corporate board more than a multilateral institution. Permanent membership is open to other countries — but at a price.
States seeking permanent status must contribute US $1 billion within the first year. Other countries may join for free for an initial three-year period, after which their status must be reviewed.
The funding model relies entirely on voluntary contributions from governments and other entities, rather than assessed contributions of the kind used by the United Nations.
Who sits on the Board of Peace
An initial seven-member executive board has been appointed, composed of political figures, diplomats and business leaders closely aligned with the Trump administration.
Named members include:
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
- Jared Kushner
- Sir Tony Blair, former British prime minister
- Marc Rowan, chief executive of Apollo Global Management
- Ajay Banga
- Robert Gabriel, US National Security Adviser
The board has also appointed Nickolay Mladenov, a former UN Middle East envoy, as High Representative for Gaza, and Major General Jasper Jeffers as commander of an International Stabilisation Force.
According to US officials, around 60 countries were invited to participate. Turkey and Saudi Arabia have confirmed involvement, while France has declined membership, signalling unease among some traditional Western allies.
What Trump and his allies are saying
Mr Trump announced the board’s formation on his Truth Social platform, declaring: “It is my Great Honor to announce that THE BOARD OF PEACE has been formed… it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place.”
At the Davos ceremony, Marco Rubio framed it as a turning point, saying: “We are here today because of President Trump’s vision…. Now, the page turns.”
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, linked the board directly to the Gaza ceasefire: “We have achieved a peace deal in Gaza. We have brought the hostages home… and maybe most importantly, we have created a sense of hope for what the future can bring in Gaza and all other places where the Board of Peace will operate.”
Concerns over the United Nations and international law
The United Nations has taken a cautious stance. Officials have emphasised that Security Council Resolution 2803 applies strictly to Gaza and runs only until 2027.
A UN position statement noted that the Security Council “has endorsed the Board of Peace strictly for the work on Gaza and… we continue to abide by that resolution.”
The divergence between that limited mandate and the board’s self-declared global ambition has set off alarm bells in diplomatic circles. Critics warn that the body could undermine existing UN mechanisms, particularly if it begins operating in other conflict zones without explicit Security Council approval.
For smaller EU states like Malta, which depend heavily on international law and multilateral norms, the prospect of a powerful ad hoc body led by a single political figure raises difficult questions.
Why it matters beyond the Middle East
Although the board’s current work remains focused on Gaza, its charter allows it to expand rapidly. Membership offers states a seat at what the Trump administration portrays as a more decisive, results-driven alternative to traditional diplomacy.
But that promise comes with trade-offs: financial costs, reduced collective oversight, and a governance model centred on one chairman.
For now, the Board of Peace stands as one of the most unconventional experiments in international governance in decades — part peace conference, part executive council.
Whether it becomes a genuine instrument for conflict resolution or a symbolic extension of American power under Trump’s leadership may ultimately depend on how — and where — it chooses to act next.
