Trump had initially floated the Board of Peace as part of a second phase of the US-brokered 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan in September. But Trump had longer-term plans. The charter draft describes the Board of Peace as an “international organization” promoting stability, peace and governance “in areas affected or threatened by conflict.” Trump will serve as chairman of the board indefinitely, according to the charter, possibly holding the post beyond his second term as president.
The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkey, Hungary, Morocco, Kosovo, Albania, Bulgaria, Argentina and Paraguay have accepted Trump’s invitation. As have the Central Asian states of Kazakhstan, Mongolia and Uzbekistan, and the Southeast Asian nations of Indonesia and Vietnam. Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu is also on board, even though he has fumed at the inclusion of Turkish and Qatari officials on the Gaza Executive Board and faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
Trump’s comment that the board “might” replace the UN has compounded concerns that it may become a vehicle for him to supersede the body established 80 years ago to maintain global peace. The board’s charter mentions “institutions that have too often failed,” without naming the UN, an organization Trump has repeatedly criticized.