DAVOS, SWITZERLAND — U.S. President Donald Trump formally inaugurated his “Board of Peace” on Thursday, unveiling an 11-page charter that establishes a high-stakes, “pay-to-play” international body centered on his personal leadership. During a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum, Trump declared that the organization—which requires a $1 billion contribution for a permanent seat—would have the power to “do pretty much whatever we want to do.“
While the board was initially presented to the United Nations as a mechanism to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, the final charter notably omits any specific mention of the Palestinian enclave. Instead, it positions the board as a permanent global alternative to the UN, chaired by Trump for life with unilateral authority to issue resolutions and appoint members.
The ‘New Gaza’ Master Plan
Senior White House Adviser Jared Kushner presented a $25 billion redevelopment blueprint for Gaza, which he described as the board’s first major project. The plan, modeled on “free market principles,” envisions transforming the war-torn strip into a regional economic hub by 2035.
Key features of the proposal include:
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Residential Expansion: Construction of 100,000 housing units in Rafah and “New Gaza.“
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Tourism & Industry: Zoned areas for “coastal tourism” featuring 180 mixed-use towers, alongside industrial zones for data centers.
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Security First: A focus on demilitarization through cooperation with Israel and a “technocratic Palestinian government.“
“In the Middle East, they build cities like this in three years,” Kushner told the Davos audience. “This is very doable if we make it happen.”
However, critics on the ground in Gaza remain skeptical. Reports from aid organizations continue to warn of dire shortages of food and medicine, with many Palestinians feeling the board treats them as “a problem to be managed” rather than people with rights.
A Divided International Response
The board has created a sharp divide between the U.S. and its traditional European allies. While 19 to 25 nations—including Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Hungary, and Qatar—have signed on, major Western powers have staged a de facto boycott.
| The Board of Peace: Who is In and Who is Out | |
| Joined/Signatory | Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Hungary, UAE, Qatar, Israel, Egypt. |
| Declined/Boycotting | United Kingdom, France, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia. |
| Undecided/Consulting | China, Russia, India, Japan. |
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper stated the UK would not join, citing the invitation extended to Vladimir Putin. “We have not seen any signs from Putin of a commitment to peace in Ukraine,” she told the BBC. French officials expressed concern that the board is an attempt to render the UN obsolete, with some analysts describing the structure as an “imperial court.“
The ‘Greenland Row’ and Regional Security
The Davos launch follows a volatile week where Trump leveraged tariff threats against eight European nations to press for control over Greenland. Though the threats were retracted on Wednesday, the tension lingers.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasized that Danish sovereignty is non-negotiable. “There is no doubt that we in NATO need to rearm… but it has to be within the rules of democracy,” she said. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the distraction caused by the Greenland dispute, warning that Europe’s security remains fragile while leaders “wait for America to cool down.“
Global Briefs: Landslides and Lion Escapes
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New Zealand: At least two people have died and several are missing after massive landslides struck the North Island.
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Pakistan: Wildlife rangers in Lahore seized 11 illegally kept lions after one escaped and attacked a local girl, sparking a fresh debate over exotic pet laws.
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Oscars 2026: The Academy Award nominations are out. The vampire horror Sinners leads the pack with a record-breaking 16 nominations
