The recent establishment of President Donald Trump's Board of Peace aims to address not only the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza but also seeks to expand its scope to tackle additional global crises. This initiative has the potential to challenge the traditional role of the United Nations, posing a significant shift in the post-World War II international order.
In letters dispatched on Friday to various world leaders, Trump invited them to become founding members of the Board of Peace. In his communications, he articulated a vision for a bold new approach to resolving global conflicts. The invitations were addressed to leaders such as Argentine President Javier Milei and Paraguay's Santiago Peña, highlighting their potential roles in this newly proposed framework.
Trump's 20-point ceasefire plan for Gaza, which includes the formation of the Board of Peace, received endorsement from the U.N. Security Council. The implications of this panel's work may extend beyond just Gaza, leading to a wider spectrum of global engagement.
Trump characterized the Board of Peace as the most impressive and consequential board ever assembled, indicating its establishment as a new International Organization and Transitional Governing Administration. Other leaders who acknowledged receiving the invitation included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. However, the total number of leaders receiving invitations has not yet been disclosed.
This ambitious initiative is likely to generate controversy, particularly from nations such as China and Russia, which possess veto power in the U.N. Security Council and hold vested interests in maintaining the current global order. Smaller nations may also express concerns, as the U.N. has historically provided them a platform to voice their opinions in significant international matters since World War II.
Daniel Forti, head of U.N. affairs at the International Crisis Group, criticized this move as a U.S. strategy to exert its influence over global affairs. He described it as a mechanism for world leaders to bypass longstanding agreements on sovereignty and territorial integrity in favor of more transactional arrangements.
A senior U.S. official described the expanded role of the Board of Peace as aspirational, noting that while Trump and his advisors believe it is feasible, they did not intend for it to supplant the U.N. Instead, they suggested it might serve to rejuvenate the world body's actions.
The Trump administration has had a contentious relationship with the United Nations, often criticizing it while reducing financial support for international organizations and humanitarian efforts. Trump and his supporters have described the U.N. as ineffective and criticized certain agencies for promoting what they term "woke" ideologies.
The letters announcing the formation of the Board of Peace were preceded by Trump’s social media post on Thursday, where he mentioned that the names of its members would be revealed soon. A formal announcement is anticipated next week during the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
Additionally, the White House disclosed names of certain leaders who will participate in overseeing the next steps in Gaza, including members of an executive board responsible for executing the Board of Peace's vision. Notably, Israel's government has voiced objections to these developments, asserting that they were not coordinated with Israel and contradict its policy.
This ongoing initiative reflects Trump’s ambition to reshape international diplomacy and global governance amid a complex geopolitical landscape.
