US President Donald Trump has struggled to attract Western allies to his “peace commission,” but so far he has garnered support from a Middle Eastern monarch, the man known as Europe’s last dictator, and at least one leader wanted on war crimes charges.
President Trump’s invitation to dozens of countries to join the council, which seeks to resolve global conflicts, has alarmed several U.S. allies, as has the U.S. leader’s statement that its authority “could” replace the United Nations.
The board, which Mr. Trump will chair indefinitely, was originally conceived as a limited body tasked with overseeing the rebuilding of the Gaza Strip, which was ravaged by Israel’s two-year war. But its purpose has since expanded to address conflicts around the world, and the draft charter sent with the invitation to join doesn’t even mention Gaza.
U.S. adversaries Russia and China, as well as long-time repressor Belarus, have also been invited to the council, offering permanent seats for a $1 billion price tag. European allies, oil-rich Gulf states, former Soviet Union states and even the Pope have been approached to participate.
About 35 of the 50 invited countries will attend a signing ceremony Thursday in the Swiss resort of Davos to coincide with the World Economic Forum, a senior government official said.
Here’s what you need to know about the board and who’s on it and who’s not.
President Trump originally proposed establishing a peace commission as part of the second phase of the 20-site Gaza ceasefire plan brokered by the United States in September.
The UN Security Council endorsed the plan in November, giving it international legitimacy and tasking the council with overseeing the demilitarization and reconstruction of Gaza.
But Trump had long-term plans. The draft charter, obtained by CNN, describes the peace commission as an “international organization” that promotes stability, peace and governance in “areas affected by or threatened by conflict.”
According to the charter, Mr. Trump will serve as chairman of the board indefinitely and could remain in that position beyond his second term as president.
The peace committee sits above a founding executive committee that includes President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
The United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, Pakistan, Turkey, Hungary, Morocco, Kosovo, Argentina and Paraguay accepted President Trump’s invitation. The same goes for Central Asian countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, and Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also furious at the addition of Turkish and Qatari officials to the Gaza Executive Committee, even though he faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court.
Armenia and Azerbaijan, which signed a U.S.-brokered peace deal last year, also agreed, giving the U.S. exclusive development access to a key transit corridor in the region.
It was signed by Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko, Europe’s last dictator and often described as a key ally of Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“This is controversial to some people,” Trump told CNN, referring to his claim that Putin had agreed to participate. The Russian leader has not yet confirmed his decision, but is considering using Russian assets frozen in the United States to pay the $1 billion cost of securing a permanent seat. Putin’s possible participation has raised concerns about how countries actively at war might be involved in efforts to secure peace.
Canada’s Mark Carney, who has repeatedly criticized President Trump for destroying the world’s “rules-based order” and imposing punitive tariffs, said he intends to participate conditionally, saying the details, including financial aspects, have not yet been worked out.
Some countries are not committed to either approach, and others have declined the invitation.
France and Norway have rejected it, citing questions about how the peace commission would work with the United Nations.
China confirmed it had been invited but did not say whether it would participate. A Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday that China “remains resolutely committed to safeguarding the international system, centered on the United Nations.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said it was difficult to “cooperate with Russia in any council” and said: “The problem is that Russia is our enemy and Belarus is our ally.”
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said she would not attend the signing ceremony because there could be constitutional issues with membership. And Ireland’s Foreign Secretary Helen McEntee said she would “carefully consider” the invitation.
President Trump’s peace commission is mired in controversy.
Diplomats, officials, and world leaders have expressed major concerns about the Council’s expanded powers, President Trump’s indefinite presidency, and the potential damage it could cause to UN operations.
Member states have a three-year term, after which they must pay $1 billion to secure a permanent seat. U.S. officials say the money raised will go toward rebuilding Gaza, a move criticized for risking corruption.
President Trump’s comments that the council “could” replace the United Nations have further heightened concerns that the council could become an alternative to the 80-year-old institution created to maintain world peace. The council’s charter does not name the United Nations, which Trump has repeatedly criticized, but does refer to “an institution that has too often failed.”
Tom Fletcher, the UN’s top humanitarian official and emergency relief coordinator, told CNN that President Trump’s peace commission will not replace his organization.
“It is clear to me and my colleagues that the United Nations is not going anywhere,” he said.
