Explainer: Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” and how it would work

A charter seen by AFP describes a proposed international body dubbed the “Board of Peace,” with the United States inviting countries to participate and seeking a $1 billion payment for permanent membership. The concept was initially linked to overseeing reconstruction in Gaza, but the charter does not limit the organisation’s scope to that territory.\n\nUnder the document, the Board of Peace would be chaired by US President Donald Trump and is framed as a mechanism to promote stability, restore lawful governance and secure lasting peace in conflict-affected or conflict-prone areas. The charter says the organisation would conduct peace-building functions consistent with international law.\n\nThe chairman’s powers are described as expansive, including authority to create, modify or dissolve subsidiary entities. The chairman would also select members of an executive board for two-year terms, with removals subject to the chair. The charter outlines that board decisions would require a majority of members present and voting, but would still be subject to the chairman’s approval, with the chairman also holding a tie-breaking vote.\n\nMembership would be by invitation from the US president, represented at the head-of-state or head-of-government level, and generally capped at three years. The document adds that the three-year limit would not apply to states contributing more than $1 billion in cash within the first year of the charter’s entry into force.\n\nThe White House has said the executive board would include seven named members, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special negotiator Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, former UK prime minister Tony Blair, financier Marc Rowan, World Bank president Ajay Banga and a National Security Council aide, Robert Gabriel.\n\nDozens of governments and leaders have reportedly received invitations, including major powers and a wide range of states across Europe, Central Asia and the Middle East. Several countries have indicated interest in joining, while Canada has said it would take part but would not pay the $1 billion for permanent membership. France has signalled it will not participate, and Ukraine’s president has raised concerns about sitting alongside Russia. The charter says it would take effect once three states formally express consent to be bound by it.