Politics

Trump's Board of Peace gives hints to his vision for a new world order

Critics worry the BOP is a bid to dismantle the post-1945 international order and replace it with structures under the US president's direct control, with scope stretching well beyond Gaza

AFP / Al Majalla

Trump's Board of Peace gives hints to his vision for a new world order

Tarek Rashed

last update on 24 Jan 2026

With a hesitant United Nations endorsement, the proposed Board of Peace was initially devised to uphold the ceasefire in Gaza, oversee reconstruction, and foster stability. In recent weeks, however, it has moved away from the limited mechanism originally put forward. Today, its primary purpose seems to be promoting US President Donald Trump’s agenda and projecting his personal dominance.

Forced through under significant pressure from Trump, the charter now mirrors the structure of the UN but affords him a personal veto over any resolution he opposes. Acting under the authority claimed by this document, he has secured his own leadership of the Board and offered permanent membership to anyone who pays $1bn.

The Board of Peace is the ultimate oversight body for Gaza. There are two other groups that it is designed to oversee. The first is the Palestinian National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), which was assembled on 14 January, but whose 15 members have not yet been allowed into Gaza by Israel. The NCAG has been described as “technocratic” and will administer Gaza, but won't have the trappings of a typical government. The other is the executive board, which is mainly comprised of businesspeople.

Getting onboard

In a joint statement, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Türkiye signalled their interest in joining the Board of Peace, alongside Israel, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Qatar. They were later joined by Albania, Bahrain, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Morocco, and Vietnam. At the time of writing, 19 countries had joined the United States on the Board, including Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, and Türkiye.

Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP — Leaders of various nations joining Trump's Board of Peace pose for a picture at the unveiling ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, in Davos, on 22 January 2026.

In total, Trump has invited 60 countries. Many have expressed reservations, including several major European states. In private, they wonder what the Board’s real purpose is. Slovenia’s Prime Minister Robert Golob said the Board represents a serious encroachment on the broader international system. Although established in response to the conflict in Gaza, its founding charter makes no mention of the territory. Large portions of the Board’s remit duplicate the responsibilities of international bodies.

Saudi Arabia acknowledged that the original goal had been approved by the Security Council and expressed support for the charter’s stated commitment to a just and lasting peace in Gaza. This implicitly signals discomfort with the Board’s expansion into a quasi-global institution with authority to intervene in other conflicts. Russia, China, the UK, France, and even the Vatican have given hesitant or conditional answers. Israel is also reluctant.

Many countries have expressed reservations about the BOP, including several major European states. In private, they wonder what its real purpose is.

Overarching power

Under the terms of the charter, the Board is activated once three member states ratify it. Membership is granted for three years, although states contributing $1bn get permanent status. It is defined as an international entity charged with promoting peace in accordance with international law. As chair, Trump has the power to appoint executive members and to create or dissolve any of its committees.

The White House has announced seven founding members of the executive body. They include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, his son‑in‑law Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Former UN envoy to the Middle East Nikolay Mladenov has been appointed as the Board's representative in Gaza for the reconstruction phase, but Hamas has yet to disarm.

REUTERS/Denis Balibouse — Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff at Trump's Board of Peace unveiling ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, in Davos on 22 January 2026.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reluctantly agreed to Türkiye and Qatar's inclusion on the executive board, despite their critical role in brokering the ceasefire with Egypt. Still, movement toward the second phase of the agreement is uncertain.

Israel also continues to link any progress to the return of the remains of the final Israeli hostage held by Hamas. Israel also refuses to withdraw from Gaza, and Hamas will not disarm without a declaration of an independent Palestinian state, so the ceasefire stands on shaky ground. Some ask: what ceasefire? Since it came into effect in October, Israel has killed more than 450 Palestinians.

Undermining the UN

Trump formally launched the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in a ceremony attended by representatives of participating states, most of whom joined more to curry favour with the American president than out of genuine belief in the Board's ability to resolve conflicts. Others worry that the Board could undermine the UN as a rival institution, serving as an outlet for Trump's personal agenda.

British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reiterated her country's support for the peace plan in Gaza but questioned the implications of the Board as a binding legal framework. Trump's comments seemed to heighten fears. "Once the Board is complete, we can do whatever we want," he said, adding that the Board would "work in conjunction with the United Nations".

While the Security Council originally tasked the Board of Peace with rebuilding Gaza and supporting the ceasefire, the White House redrafted its mission to include "promoting stability, restoring lawful and credible governance, and securing lasting peace in areas affected by conflict or threatened by it"—but did not mention Gaza.

Some think the Board is part of Trump's second-term focus: to dismantle the post-1945 international order and replace it with structures under his direct control, with scope stretching well beyond Gaza. In Davos, Trump said that the Board would achieve what the UN could not. He acknowledged the presence of "controversial figures, like Putin," but said they were "the ones who get things done". Putin said Russia was prepared to contribute $1bn—provided it could access frozen Russian assets.

In Europe, only Hungary, Bulgaria, and Kosovo have joined. Some Europeans think that Trump will use the Board to end the conflict in Ukraine on Moscow's terms, and that he and Putin may divide Europe between them. Yet the Board has no legal mandate to intervene in conflicts beyond Gaza, and it lacks the UN's legitimacy.

Several American presidents have tried to sidestep the UN Charter or bully the institution through budgetary threats or by ignoring its treaties, but none have gone as far as Trump, and senior UN officials view with concern Trump's continuing attempts to expand his powers. In the three-tier Gaza structure, Trump retains sweeping authority, including the power to veto decisions made by the executive or the NCAG.

Reuters — Ali Shaath during a meeting to discuss the reconstruction of Gaza.

Below the Board and the executive sits the NCAG, led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Shaath. This civilian structure operates alongside a military authority commanded by American Gen. Jasper Jeffers, head of the International Stabilisation Force, tasked with disarmament in Gaza.

But it will be the Board that controls budgets, policies, and senior appointments. The seven-member executive is supposed to carry out operational tasks, oversee measures aimed at stabilising Gaza, foster effective governance, handle external relations, facilitate reconstruction, and secure investment and financial support, all in coordination with Arab representatives to ensure the enclave's smooth administration.

With Trump's Board seemingly set to deepen divisions between Washington and its strategic allies, it may also strip away long-standing diplomatic formalities, exposing fractures that had long been whispered. The Board's mandate extends through to 2027 under the terms of the relevant Security Council resolution. What the situation looks like in two years' time is anyone's guess.

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