Trump proposes $1bn buy-in for exclusive ‘Board of Peace,’ bypassing UN framework

The administration of United States President Donald Trump has unveiled plans for a new international body, the “Board of Peace,” under which countries would be required to pay up to $1 billion to secure permanent membership, according to a draft charter obtained by AFP.

The proposed body, which would be chaired by Trump, is designed to intervene in conflict resolution and post-war governance, with an initial focus on crisis zones but a mandate that extends beyond any single region. Membership would be by invitation only and limited to heads of state personally selected by the US president.

Under the draft charter, member states would normally serve a renewable three-year term. However, countries that contribute more than $1 billion in cash within the first year of the board’s establishment would be exempt from the term limit, effectively granting them long-term or permanent status.

“Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman,” the document states, adding that the restriction would not apply to states making contributions exceeding the $1 billion threshold.

The White House has reportedly contacted several global leaders to join the initiative, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Leaders of Egypt, Turkey, Argentina and Canada were among those invited over the weekend, indicating a widening circle of prospective participants.

Although the concept was initially developed around overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza, the charter does not restrict the board’s role to the Palestinian territory. Instead, it defines the Board of Peace as an international organisation aimed at promoting stability, restoring governance and securing lasting peace in regions affected or threatened by conflict.

The proposed structure would comprise a main board, a Palestinian technocratic committee tasked with administering Gaza, and a separate executive board that appears to be largely advisory in nature.

The charter openly challenges existing multilateral institutions, asserting that the new body must have “the courage to depart from approaches and institutions that have too often failed,” language widely interpreted as a criticism of the United Nations. Trump has repeatedly attacked the UN and recently announced plans for the United States to withdraw from dozens of international organisations and treaties, many of them affiliated with the global body.

Control of the Board of Peace would rest heavily with the chairman. Trump would have the authority to invite or remove member states, although removals could be blocked by a two-thirds majority of the board. He would also retain the power to name his successor should he step aside.

Beyond heads of state, Trump has named several prominent figures as members of the initiative, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British prime minister Tony Blair, senior negotiator Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.

The proposal has already drawn criticism, with Israel reportedly objecting to the make-up of the planned Gaza executive board, which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.

If adopted, the Board of Peace would mark a significant shift away from conventional multilateral diplomacy, introducing a pay-for-membership model that places conflict management under direct White House influence.