Trump launches Board of Peace with global leaders at Davos
Charter signed at Davos as US-backed body expands Gaza mandate amid criticism, funding conditions and cautious global responses
DAVOS, Switzerland (MNTV) — United States President Donald Trump on Thursday formally launched the US-led Board of Peace, signing its founding charter alongside leaders and senior officials from 19 countries at the World Economic Forum, unveiling a new international body initially focused on Gaza but designed to address global conflicts more broadly.
Trump, who will serve as chairman of the Board of Peace, described the signatories as influential leaders capable of shaping international stability, saying the initiative would complement existing diplomatic frameworks while introducing what he called a more decisive approach to conflict resolution.
Originally conceived as a mechanism to oversee post-war governance and security arrangements in Gaza following Israel’s two-year war on Gaza, and followed by brutal genocide, the board’s charter outlines an expanded mandate to mediate and respond to international disputes beyond the Middle East.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the charter has entered into force, officially establishing the board as an international organization.
The signing ceremony brought together representatives from Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Morocco, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, the United Arab Emirates and Uzbekistan, along with Pakistan, whose prime minister attended the event.
Trump sought to address concerns that the new body could rival the United Nations, saying the Board of Peace would operate “in conjunction” with the UN rather than replace it. He argued that closer coordination between the two could unlock what he described as the UN’s unrealized potential, while also criticizing the world body’s handling of long-running conflicts.
Pakistan accepted Trump’s invitation to join the board a day ahead of the ceremony. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif participated in the signing but did not deliver public remarks.
Under the charter, permanent members are required to contribute $1 billion to the organization, a provision that has drawn criticism from analysts and rights groups, who warn the structure could create a “pay-to-play” alternative to the UN Security Council.
During a wide-ranging address, Trump said the board’s immediate priority was ensuring Gaza is “demilitarized, properly governed and rebuilt,” before expanding its activities elsewhere. “Once this board is completely formed, we can do numerous other things,” he said, adding that its scope would grow as Gaza stabilizes.
Trump warned that Hamas must disarm under the ceasefire framework or face elimination while not talking about Israel’s provisions under the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas last year.
He also said Iran was seeking talks with Washington and reiterated US opposition to Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, referencing American strikes on Iranian sites in mid-2025. The American strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, however, have been called ‘illegal’ by international human rights experts.
A significant portion of the ceremony focused on Gaza’s future. Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner presented what he called a “New Gaza” master plan, featuring large-scale reconstruction, new settlements and waterfront developments.
Kushner said the next phase of the ceasefire would address funding, governance and Hamas disarmament, calling demilitarization a prerequisite for progress.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the Board of Peace as a “board of action,” emphasizing that Trump was willing to engage any party in pursuit of peace. Rubio said Gaza was the immediate focus, but the initiative could serve as a model for resolving other seemingly intractable conflicts.
Palestinian official Ali Shaath, newly appointed to oversee Gaza’s interim administration under the US-backed plan, announced that the Rafah border crossing with Egypt would reopen in both directions next week, calling it a symbolic lifeline for the enclave’s future.
Despite the fanfare, the initiative has faced resistance. Britain declined to sign the charter, citing concerns over its legal scope and the potential participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom Trump said had been invited. France has also opted out, while China has not indicated whether it will join. None of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council have committed so far.
Human rights groups were sharply critical. Amnesty International described the board as a “brazen disregard for international law,” warning it undermines established global governance mechanisms and risks sidelining universal norms in favor of ad hoc arrangements driven by political and economic interests.
Even so, Trump insisted interest was growing, saying several countries were unable to sign in Davos due to domestic procedures but were expected to join later. With its charter now in force, the Board of Peace enters the international arena as one of the most controversial diplomatic experiments in years, combining ambitious peace-building claims with unresolved questions over legitimacy, funding and global acceptance.
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