The original name of the “Peace Council” is Board of Peace. Instead of the word council, traditionally used for international political bodies, the term board is used like in board of directors. Donald Trump has openly stated that he views the Peace Council as a possible alternative to the United Nations.
Where the Peace Council Came From
The idea of the Peace Council grew out of the plan to resolve the conflict in Gaza that Trump put forward in the autumn. The main author of the concept is believed to be Jared Kushner—Trump’s son-in-law and his key adviser on the Middle East.
Everything began in the summer of 2025. Several groups were simultaneously developing their own plans to end the war in the Gaza Strip. Among them were the Institute for Global Change founded by former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, as well as experts hired by Israeli businessmen Michael Eisenberg and Liran Tankman. These groups did not coordinate with one another, but they had one thing in common: all of them were trying to reach Kushner, understanding that without his involvement no plan would ever become a “Trump plan.” In August–September, several competing concepts were merged into a single project, which Trump presented as his peace plan. It envisaged, among other things, the temporary transfer of Gaza under international administration through a specially created body, the original Peace Council. This body was to make strategic decisions and oversee the work of a committee of Palestinian technocrats responsible for the day-to-day governance of the territory. The structure was explicitly corporate in nature. The Peace Council functioned as a board of directors: seats were allocated to those who contributed the most to the Gaza reconstruction project. In October, a ceasefire came into force in Gaza. In November, the UN Security Council approved Trump’s plan. In January, new governing bodies for the territory were established.
By that point, Trump’s ambitions for the Peace Council were already clearly extending beyond Gaza. In mid-January, Western media reported that his administration was discussing the creation of a similar structure for Ukraine. Shortly afterward, the Peace Council’s charter was published, revealing that Gaza was not mentioned at all. The organization’s purpose was formulated in very broad terms: “to strengthen stability, restore legitimate and durable governance, and establish lasting peace in regions affected by or threatened by conflict.”
How the Peace Council Will Be Organized
Essentially, it is designed as a global board of directors. The chairman of the Peace Council is Donald Trump. He also represents the United States within it, even after the end of his presidential term. The position of chairman is not elective: removal is possible only in the event of voluntary resignation or incapacity. He appoints his own successor.
With the exception of Trump, the members of the Peace Council are not individuals but states. Membership is possible only by invitation from the chairman. The term of membership is three years. Countries that contribute one billion dollars to the Council’s budget during the first year of the charter’s implementation (until January 22, 2027) become permanent members. The chairman may expel any state, and only a two-thirds vote of the members can block such a decision.
The charter creates no obligations under international law. It does not provide for mandatory contributions, does not require parliamentary ratification, and explicitly states that the degree of participation of each state is determined by its national legislation. Formally, the Peace Council is simply an international NGO. Critics describe it as a “pay-to-play club,” while supporters argue that it is logical for countries that invest the most in international affairs to wield the greatest influence.
Who Joined the Peace Council
Before the charter was signed, invitations were sent to several dozen countries, including Russia and Belarus. On January 22 in Davos, the Peace Council’s charter was signed by leaders and senior representatives of countries from the Middle East, Central Asia, Latin America, and Southern and Eastern Europe. Among them were Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and several other states. Albania, Belarus, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, and Vietnam had previously declared their readiness to join the initiative.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he was still considering the invitation, adding that the one billion dollars could be taken from Russian assets frozen in the United States. He emphasized, however, that the funds could be allocated to Gaza regardless of the final decision on membership.
Among the countries that have not yet given a definitive response is China. On the one hand, participation could facilitate dialogue with Trump on other sensitive issues. On the other, the organization’s complete domination by Trump personally is difficult to reconcile with Beijing’s view of sovereign status and diplomatic equality.
Several Western countries: the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and Norway, immediately declined the invitation. Canada hesitated for a long time, but after openly anti-Trump rhetoric by its prime minister in Davos, the outcome also became clear.
