The administration of United States President Donald Trump is proposing the creation of a new international body, the “Board of Peace,” with a controversial provision that would allow countries to secure long-term membership by paying up to $1 billion, according to a draft charter obtained by AFP.
The proposed board, to be chaired by Trump himself, is intended to play a role in resolving conflicts and overseeing post-war governance in troubled regions. Participation would be strictly by invitation, with only states selected by the US president eligible to join.
Under the charter, member states would typically serve renewable three-year terms, represented by their heads of state. 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 guaranteeing them a permanent seat.
“The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year,” the document states.
The White House has reportedly reached out to a number of world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Invitations have also been extended to the leaders of Egypt, Turkey, Argentina and Canada, suggesting an effort to assemble a geographically diverse but tightly controlled group.
Although the initiative was originally conceived to supervise the reconstruction of Gaza, the draft charter does not confine the board’s mandate to the Palestinian territory.
Instead, it defines the organisation as one aimed at promoting stability, restoring lawful governance and securing “enduring peace” in regions affected by or vulnerable to conflict.
The proposed governance structure includes a central board, a Palestinian technocratic committee expected to manage Gaza’s civil administration, and a separate executive board that would function largely in an advisory capacity.
The charter contains pointed criticism of existing multilateral frameworks, arguing that the new body should be willing to move away from institutions that “have too often failed,” language widely seen as directed at the United Nations. Trump has long been sceptical of the UN and recently announced plans for the United States to withdraw from dozens of international organisations and treaties, many of them linked to the global body.
Power within the Board of Peace would be concentrated in the chairman’s office. Trump would have the authority to invite and remove member states, although any removal could be blocked by a two-thirds majority of the board. He would also have the power to appoint his successor should he step down.
In addition to heads of state, Trump has named several high-profile figures to participate in 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 generated controversy. Israel has reportedly objected to the composition of the proposed Gaza executive board, which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.
If implemented, the Board of Peace would represent a significant departure from traditional multilateral diplomacy, blending conflict management with a pay-for-access model under direct White House oversight.
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