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Trump’s Board of Peace Grows to Two‑Dozen Nations, Hints at UN Rivalry

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Launch and lifelong chairmanship at Davos Trump unveiled the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum, appointing himself indefinite chairman and naming a seven‑member executive team that includes Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff, Tony Blair, Ajay Banga, Marc Rowan and Robert Gabriel [7][15]. The draft charter, not yet public, grants the chair unilateral power to invite or dismiss members and to create subsidiary bodies [7][16]. Membership terms are three years, with a $1 billion contribution securing a permanent seat [15][16].

Signatory counts vary as invitations expand The Davos signing ceremony recorded 19–20 countries, yet the White House later reported roughly 35 nations had signed and about 60 had been invited [5][3][11]. By Jan 27 the board listed “around two dozen” confirmed members, adding Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, Bahrain, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Israel, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Argentina, Paraguay, Bulgaria, Hungary, Belarus, Kosovo, Cambodia, Mongolia and Vietnam [1]. Discrepancies stem from differing cut‑off dates and from some states’ participation being symbolic due to visa or sanction hurdles [2][5].

Western and great‑power pushback persists France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia and Spain have declined or postponed joining, citing charter concerns and the prospect of Russian participation [3][9][14]. China and Russia have not confirmed membership; Russia’s entry is tied to using frozen assets for the fee, while China cites its UN commitment [1][2]. Canada’s invitation was withdrawn after Ottawa refused the $1 billion fee, marking a diplomatic setback in North America [3][4][6].

Funding model fuels UN‑replacement speculation Trump has suggested the board could “might” rival the United Nations, while insisting the UN should continue to exist [1][15]. Critics warn the $1 billion permanent‑seat fee and lack of enforcement mechanisms could undermine multilateral norms and create a two‑tier system where sanctioned or visa‑blocked states participate only symbolically [2][10][15]. The board’s charter omits explicit reference to Gaza, despite being framed as a Gaza‑reconstruction mechanism [7][15].

Regional backing contrasts with global skepticism Seven Muslim‑majority states—Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Qatar—have formally joined, alongside Israel and the United Arab Emirates [13][14][21]. Putin’s acceptance remains unverified, though Trump claims Russia is studying the invitation [13][8][9]. The divergent responses highlight a split between countries seeking direct influence over U.S. policy on Gaza and those wary of a Trump‑led body that could sideline established institutions.

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Timeline

Oct 2025 – The U.S.–brokered cease‑fire that ends major hostilities in Gaza takes effect, laying the groundwork for a second‑phase political process that later includes the Board of Peace [18].

Jan 8, 2026 – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announces that Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov will lead the new Gaza board, tasking him with supervising the second phase of the cease‑fire, including a technocratic Palestinian administration and Hamas disarmament [28].

Jan 9, 2026 – The White House confirms Mladenov as director‑general of the Gaza Peace Board, noting that the board will be chaired by former President Donald Trump and will oversee reconstruction, security‑force deployment and Israeli troop pull‑backs [27].

Jan 11, 2026 – Hamas publicly states it will dissolve its Gaza governing authority and hand power to an as‑yet‑unnamed technocratic committee, signalling compliance with the U.S. peace framework [25][26].

Jan 15, 2026 – U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff launches “phase two” of the Gaza plan, warning that any failure by Hamas to disarm will trigger “serious consequences” and outlining a three‑tier governance structure that excludes Hamas [24].

Jan 16, 2026 – Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio join the founding Executive Board of the Gaza Board of Peace, alongside Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and other senior officials [22].

Jan 17, 2026 – Israel’s government formally objects to the White House’s Gaza oversight plan, saying the board was created without Israeli coordination and that Prime Minister Netanyahu will contact Secretary of State Rubio for clarification [21]; simultaneously, President Trump expands the Board’s remit to “resolve global conflicts” and posts invitation letters to leaders such as Argentina’s Javier Milei, emphasizing the board’s ambition to become a new international organization [20]; the White House also unveils two Gaza boards—an Executive Board and a Gaza Executive Board—sparking criticism that the scheme resembles a colonial imposition [23].

Jan 18, 2026 – Trump issues a worldwide invitation to join the Board of Peace, describing it as a “historic, high‑impact group” that will guide Gaza’s transition and later expand to broader peace efforts [18]; Netanyahu convenes senior advisers after learning that the U.S. named the first Gaza Executive Board members (Turkey’s foreign minister, a Qatari official, Tony Blair and Jared Kushner) without Israeli input [5]; Mladenov is also named Gaza High Representative, tasked with turning the cease‑fire into a functional governance plan [19].

Jan 20, 2026 – Trump declares that the Board of Peace “could replace the United Nations” as the body overseeing Gaza reconstruction, noting that permanent seats require a $1 billion contribution [13]; France declines the invitation, prompting Trump to threaten tariffs on French wine and champagne [14]; Israel receives an invitation to join the board, while Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and Belarus’s Lukashenko are also invited, expanding the initiative’s geopolitical reach [15]; South Korea’s foreign ministry places its own invitation under review [30].

Jan 21, 2026 – Seven Muslim‑majority states—Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan and Qatar—sign on to the Board, joining Israel and signaling a regional coalition for a permanent Gaza cease‑fire [4]; Western European leaders (Norway, Sweden, France) balk at participation, underscoring a split between Muslim‑majority backing and European skepticism [12]; the White House reports that about 30 nations are expected to join, with roughly 50 invited overall [11].

Jan 22, 2026 – At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump launches the “lifelong” Board of Peace, with 19 signatory countries and a leaked charter granting him broad powers to invite members, create subsidiary bodies and appoint a successor [2]; Elon Musk jokes about “piece vs. peace” while referencing the board, highlighting broader skepticism among global elites [9]; the UK delays signing, citing concerns over Putin’s possible participation and describing the board as a “legal treaty with broader implications” [3]; UN officials warn the board may undermine the multilateral order, and analysts flag structural flaws such as a lack of enforcement mechanisms [10]; the White House notes that visa freezes and U.S. sanctions could impede participation for several invited states [6].

Jan 23, 2026 – Trump withdraws Canada’s invitation on Truth Social, stating that Canada “will not join the Board of Peace” after Ottawa balks at the $1 billion permanent‑seat fee [1]; the same day, the White House reports that visa restrictions and sanctions threaten to create a two‑tier system for board participation, while two signing‑country leaders are reportedly unable to attend Davos due to pending war‑crimes arrests [6].

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