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On the eve of his participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, which began this Wednesday, President Donald Trump sparked a diplomatic storm by suggesting that the “Peace Board” he is promoting from the White House “could replace” the United Nations.
“The UN has simply not been very helpful. I am a great admirer of the UN's potential, but it has never lived up to its potential,” said Trump, the US president, to reporters.
And he added: “The UN should have resolved all the wars that I resolved. I never turned to them, nor did I ever think of doing so.”
The statement, far from going unnoticed, heightened concerns among European diplomats, former U.S. officials, and high-ranking representatives of the United Nations, who were already viewing the new organization with suspicion—one that, as has been revealed, will be indefinitely presided over by Trump himself.
A personalist Board: Trump, a president with no term limits
Last Friday, the White House announced the establishment of a "Founding Executive Board," led by Trump and composed of close figures such as his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and special envoy Steve Witkoff.
According to the draft of the founding letter obtained by CNN, Trump will serve as president without a time limit.
It can only be removed "by voluntary resignation or as a result of incapacity, as determined by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board."
That is to say, not even a change in administration would automatically displace him from his position.
A U.S. official explained that a future president could appoint another representative of the United States to the Board, but Trump would retain his seat if he wishes to do so.
US$ 1 billion for a permanent seat
The structure of the Board has also sparked controversy due to its funding model. Countries wishing to secure a permanent seat must contribute 1 billion dollars.
Although the White House insists that it is not an "entry fee," several governments have expressed their concerns about what appears to be diplomacy restricted to countries with greater economic capacity.
"We would like to join, but we need to consider it because it requires a financial commitment that is quite high for us," stated the ambassador of one of the invited countries.
Another diplomat compared the mechanism to the Mar-a-Lago club: “I can’t imagine anyone with a democratic process being able to join and submit to Trump’s veto, let alone shell out US$ 1 billion to surpass a three-year membership.”
A U.S. official assured that the funds will be allocated for the reconstruction of Gaza.
However, CNN confirmed that there are still no concrete plans or agreements with contractors to carry out that objective.
A peace without Gaza: the Palestinian territory doesn't even appear in the mandate
Although Trump has promoted the Board as an organization to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, the draft of the founding letter does not mention the Palestinian enclave even once.
Instead, it defines the Board as an “international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore reliable and legal governance, and ensure lasting peace in areas affected or threatened by conflicts.”
This nuance has raised alarms among diplomats who see the initiative as a tool for global intervention, diverging from traditional multilateralism.
"When you read the letter, it does not apply only to Gaza," said the spokesperson for the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pascal Confavreux.
"And it raises a very significant concern regarding the rationality of the United Nations charter," he added.
Russia and China among the guests: More alarm
Another concerning sign is the list of invited countries. Among them are Russia, China, and Belarus. The potential presence of Russia, which is embroiled in the invasion of Ukraine, has faced severe criticism.
“Putin would undoubtedly use Russia's membership in the 'Peace Board' to undermine the UN and, by extension, sow further divisions in U.S. alliances,” warned Robert Wood, former U.S. Deputy Ambassador to the UN.
From London, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was clear: “Putin is not a man of peace, and I don’t believe he belongs to any organization that has the word peace in its name.”
Europe sets itself apart
While the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain confirmed their participation, several European countries have distanced themselves from the initiative.
France rejected joining, and Ireland expressed reservations, stating that it will consider the invitation carefully.
“The UN has a unique mandate to maintain international peace and security, and the legitimacy to bring nations together to find common solutions to shared challenges,” stated Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee.
The UN defends itself
From New York, the United Nations' response came swiftly. Tom Fletcher, the UN humanitarian chief, stated that Trump's Board "will not replace" the multilateral organization.
Aaron David Miller, former Middle East negotiator, was even more blunt: “Everything is tied to a galaxy far, far away, not to the realities here on planet Earth.”
"Conflicts are not resolved by external organizations, but by mediators who work with both parties," he added.
He concluded: “How can you replace an organization that has existed since 1946, with a permanent Security Council and a proven track record of humanitarian and diplomatic action? No organization can rival this one.”
A new order without consensus?
Trump's bet on a parallel "Peace Board" emerges as his greatest challenge to the global framework since his return to the presidency.
With a blend of personalized leadership, economic exclusivity, and an ambiguous global mandate, the project promises to create more division than stability in the short term.
It remains to be seen how many countries will formally join this week during the signing ceremony in Davos. But the political message has already been sent: Trump does not want to reform the UN, he wants to replace it. And the showdown has only just begun.
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