Bahrein’s Minister of the Prime Minister’s court Sheikh Isa bin Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa (L), US President Donald Trump (C) and Morocco’s Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita hold a signed founding charter at the “Board of Peace” meeting during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos on January 22, 2026. Picture: Fabrice Coffrini / AFP US President Donald Trump kicked off his new “Board of Peace” at Davos on Thursday, with a signing ceremony for a body with a $1 billion membership fee and a controversial list of invitees. A group of leaders and senior officials from 19 countries — including Trump allies from Argentina and Hungary — gathered on stage with Trump to put their names to the founding charter of the body.
Originally meant to oversee peace in Gaza after the war between Hamas and Israel, the board’s charter envisions a wider role in resolving international conflicts, sparking concerns that Trump wants it to rival the United Nations. Trump however said the organization would work “in conjunction” with the UN. The Board of Peace’s potential membership has however proved controversial, with Trump having invited Russian President Vladimir Putin, who invaded Ukraine four years ago.
Trump said Putin had agreed to join, while the Russian leader said he was still studying the invite. Permanent members must also pay $1 billion to join, leading to criticisms that the board could become a “pay to play” version of the UN Security Council. Key US allies including France and Britain have expressed skepticism, with the UK saying Thursday it would not attend the ceremony. The members on stage largely held close ties to Trump, including Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Argentina’s Javier Milei, or a wish to show their allegiance to the US president.
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