Board of Peace: Trump's Gaza Initiative Could Reshape Global Diplomacy

Donald Trump's proposed Board of Peace is shifting from a Gaza-focused ceasefire tool into a group with wider international goals, raising questions about how it might sit alongside the United Nations and whether it could reshape parts of the post-World War II global system.

Trump has asked several world leaders to become "founding members" of the Board of Peace, presenting it as a fresh way to handle conflicts worldwide. A senior US official described the broader role for this body as "aspirational," but Trump and advisers believe global frustration with the UN creates an opening for the idea.

Trump's letters to Argentine President Javier Milei and Paraguay's Santiago Pena, posted on social media, drew attention to a 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan that the UN Security Council backed. That initiative includes creating the Board of Peace and hints that the panel could extend its remit far beyond the Gaza conflict.

In those letters, Trump promoted the Board of Peace as both an international organisation and a temporary governing structure for conflict areas. The plan positions the panel within efforts to manage Gaza's next phase, yet also frames it as a model that might eventually address other disputes around the world.

Trump stated, "Now it is time to turn all of these dreams into reality." His social media post declared that the Board of Peace had already been formed, with the names of members to be disclosed. A more formal unveiling is expected at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Invitations to join the Board of Peace have reached leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The White House acknowledged that some leaders had been approached, though it remains unclear how many countries will eventually receive invitations.

Many governments are now assessing what the Board of Peace might mean for existing institutions such as the United Nations. States with permanent seats and veto power on the UN Security Council, including China and Russia, may object to any structure that appears to challenge current decision-making arrangements.

Smaller nations could also resist the Board of Peace if they see it as weakening their influence. Since World War II, the UN system has offered many less powerful countries a platform in global debates, and any new forum that seems to dilute that voice may draw criticism from those governments.

Board of Peace, Trump administration record and United Nations tensions

The Trump administration has had a history of disputes with the UN, questioning funding levels and accusing certain UN bodies of promoting "woke" agendas or duplicating work. Against that backdrop, US officials insist the Board of Peace is not designed to replace the UN but could pressure it to act more decisively.

A senior US official underlined that message, calling the expanded Board of Peace role "aspirational" rather than fixed policy. According to this view, the panel might operate alongside the United Nations, highlighting perceived gaps in UN performance while still recognising the existing institution's central legal authority.

Board of Peace executive committee and Gaza governance plans

The White House has named an executive committee to guide the next stage of Gaza policy, aligning its approach with the Board of Peace framework. This group includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and envoy Steve Witkoff, along with private-sector participants and political figures from outside the current US administration.

This executive board features business leader Marc Rowan, who heads Apollo Global Management, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Their involvement signals an attempt to mix diplomatic roles with private-sector experience as the Board of Peace concept moves from planning towards possible implementation in Gaza.

Israel voiced objections, saying the initiative "was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy." The White House has not commented publicly on Israel's concerns or on the letters Trump shared online, and the United Nations has also yet to respond to the proposed Board of Peace structure.

The Board of Peace remains at an early stage, with membership, authority and practical impact still uncertain, yet the proposal has already intensified discussions over how global conflicts are managed and whether existing institutions, including the United Nations, are meeting expectations in crises such as the war in Gaza.