President Donald Trump waves while boarding Air Force One. (Photo: AP)
US President Donald Trump is asking countries to pay at least US$1 billion if they want a permanent seat on his proposed Board of Peace, according to a draft charter seen by Bloomberg.
The document says Trump would serve as the board’s first chairman and would have the final say on who becomes a member. While decisions would be taken by a majority vote, all outcomes would still need the chairman’s approval.
The draft charter states: “Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years,” but adds that this limit would not apply to countries that contribute “more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds” within the first year.
Critics have raised concerns that Trump is trying to set up an alternative body to the United Nations, which he has often criticised.
White House response
The White House sought to push back on reports of a price tag for joining the Board of Peace, with its official Rapid Response 47 account posting on X: “This is misleading. There is no minimum membership fee to join the Board of Peace.”
The statement, however, added a caveat, saying the framework “simply offers permanent membership to partner countries who demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity.
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What the Board of Peace would do
The charter describes the Board of Peace as an international organisation aimed at promoting stability, restoring governance and securing peace in areas affected by conflict.
The board would become official once three countries agree to the charter. Trump would also approve its official seal and control the meeting agenda, according to the document.
Voting meetings would be held at least once a year, with additional meetings called at the chairman’s discretion. Trump would also have the power to remove members, unless blocked by a two-thirds vote of the board.
Gaza plan draws criticism
Trump has already invited several leaders, including Argentina’s President Javier Milei and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney, to join a Gaza Board of Peace, which would sit under the wider Board of Peace framework.
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The move drew criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His office said the plan had not been coordinated with Israel and went against its policy.
“The announcement regarding the composition of the Gaza Executive Board was not coordinated with Israel,” Netanyahu’s office said, adding that Israel had asked the US for clarification.
Several European countries have also been invited to join, according to people familiar with the matter. Turkey said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had been asked to become a founding member, while Egypt said it was reviewing a request for President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to join.
Argentine President Milei shared an image of his invitation online, saying it would be “an honour” to take part.
People familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg that the draft charter suggests Trump would control the funds raised by the board, something many countries would find unacceptable.
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Several nations are said to oppose the proposal and are working together to push back against it.
On Saturday, the Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad criticised the board, saying it was designed to serve Israel’s interests.
The White House has announced an initial executive panel ahead of the full board’s formation. It includes US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and former UK prime minister Tony Blair. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
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