President Donald Trump formally launched the Board of Peace during a ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While the Trump administration presents the organization as a “nimble and effective” tool for global stability, its expansive mandate and structure have led critics and world leaders to question if it is intended to bypass or replace the United Nations.
Originally, the Board of Peace was proposed in late 2025 as a specific mechanism to oversee the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip following the Israel-Hamas war. It even received initial backing from UN Security Council Resolution 2803 for this limited purpose. However, the final charter unveiled in Davos expands this significantly. The charter describes the board as an international organization aimed at promoting stability so as to “secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict” worldwide—not just in Gaza.
When asked directly if the board might replace the UN, Trump responded that it might, though he later clarified he hopes it will work “in conjunction with the United Nations” to use the UN’s “untapped potential.” One of the most controversial aspects of the board is its funding and membership structure:
- Permanent seats: Nations are invited to join for free for a three-year term. However, to secure a permanent seat, countries are reportedly asked to contribute $1 billion.
- The Chairman’s power: Donald Trump is named the inaugural Chairman for life (or until he chooses a successor). He holds veto power over all board decisions and sole authority to invite or dismiss members.
- Executive Board: The founding executive board includes figures such as Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and former British PM Tony Blair.
- Around 35 countries have reportedly signed on or expressed intent, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, and Hungary.
The administration argues the UN is too slow and “bloated” and that the Board of Peace provides a more efficient way for a “coalition of the willing” to solve conflicts directly.
Greece and the Europeans argue the Board of Peace may undermine the UN
Critics argue it creates a parallel, “transactional” diplomatic system, shifting power from the UN’s multilateral framework to a US-led, Trump-chaired committee. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has raised “legal concerns,” citing objections shared by most EU member states.
Speaking as he arrived at an extraordinary EU summit in Brussels, Mitsotakis said that Greece, along with “almost all EU countries, with two exceptions,” has expressed reservations about the initiative, arguing its scope “far exceeds United Nations Resolution 2803” passed in November to give effect to the Gaza peace plan.
Despite these concerns, the Prime Minister said he would propose a compromise under which the thirteen EU countries invited to participate in the Board of Peace would sign on only for the next phase of the Gaza process and only for as long as necessary. “I believe this is a reasonable compromise solution that will allow us to participate in the peace process in Gaza,” Mitsotakis said, while avoiding the creation of “essentially a new organization that could operate in competition with the United Nations.”
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis stated Athens requires clarity on how the proposal aligns with the existing UN framework. The current proposal, he argued, goes further, covering conflicts more broadly and adopting a permanent structure. According to Gerapetritis, this results in a clear gap between the UN mandate and the Peace Council concept currently presented to Greece.
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