January 22, 2026
Trump launches Board of Peace with $1 billion permanent membership fee as major allies refuse to join
Western allies reject Trump's pay-to-play peace initiative as potential UN rival
🌍Foreign Policy🏛️Government🛡️National Security
Trump held a signing ceremony for the Board of Peace on Jan. 22, 2026, at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The board was originally conceived in 2025 to oversee Gaza reconstruction after Israel's war on the Palestinian territory. But the final 11-page charter doesn't mention Gaza once. Trump said the board could 'do pretty much whatever we want to do' and may extend its work to other global crises, positioning it as a potential rival to the United Nations Security Council.
The charter states that nations accepting the invitation get three-year membership terms. But permanent membership requires contributing more than $1 billion in cash to the Board of Peace within the first year. A U.S. official said contributions are 'voluntary' and not entry fees. Putin said on Jan. 22 that Russia would pay the $1 billion, but demanded it come from frozen Russian assets held by the U.S. since the Ukraine invasion. The charter promises 'the highest financial controls and oversight mechanisms' for contributed funds.
Major Western allies refused to join. The UK, France, Germany, and Israel didn't send representatives despite attending Davos. Belgium initially signed but backed out hours later. Belgian Deputy Prime Minister Maxime Prévot posted on X that Belgium 'has NOT signed the Charter of the Board of Peace. This announcement is incorrect.' He said Belgium wants 'a common and coordinated European response' and has 'reservations to the proposal.' UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper cited concerns about Putin being invited 'when we've still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be commitment to peace in Ukraine.'
Fewer than 20 countries attended the ceremony, well below the 35 anticipated by White House officials. Signatories included Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Mongolia, Morocco, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the UAE, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam. Most are from the Middle East, Central Asia, and South America. Not a single representative from Western Europe signed. The White House had sent invitations to more than 50 world leaders over the weekend before the ceremony.
The executive committee includes Secretary of State 
Marco Rubio, Trump envoy 
Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and World Bank President Ajay Banga. Kushner presented Gaza reconstruction plans at the ceremony, displaying mock-ups of high-rise apartment buildings along Gaza's seafront. He proposed 'coastal tourism' zones and said 'New Gaza could be a hope. It could be a destination, have a lot of industry, and really be a place that the people there can thrive.' He estimated construction could be completed in two to three years and said 'We don't have a Plan B. We have a master plan.'
Trump announced the board in 2025 as part of a Gaza ceasefire plan, framing it as an international body to oversee Gaza reconstruction. The UN Security Council adopted a U.S.-penned resolution establishing the Board of Peace in Nov. 2025. Trump said at the ceremony that the board would 'work with many others, including the United Nations' but added 'I've always said the United Nations has got tremendous potential, has not used it.' The initiative has drawn skepticism from allies who question whether a UN alternative is necessary, especially one controlled by the U.S. president.
The ceremony occurred during Trump's Davos trip, which was dominated by his Greenland acquisition push and threats against European NATO allies. Trump had threatened 10% tariffs on eight European countries starting Feb. 1 (rising to 25% by Jun. 1) over their Greenland opposition. Hours after the Board of Peace ceremony, Trump announced a 'framework of a future deal' with NATO on Greenland and dropped the tariff threats. The board launch coincided with the first announced U.S.-Russia-Ukraine trilateral talks in the UAE, with Trump envoy Steve Witkoff heading to Moscow to meet Putin after the Davos event.
Trump called Gaza 'a beautiful piece of property' at the ceremony, saying he's 'a real estate person at heart.' The ceasefire in Gaza took effect in Oct. 2025, but hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes since then. Three journalists were killed in an Israeli strike on Jan. 21, including one who worked extensively for CBS News. Trump claimed 'You don't hear those stories anymore with people starving' and said the ceasefire 'delivered record levels of humanitarian aid.' Phase Two of the peace plan includes a new Palestinian committee in Gaza, deployment of an international security force, disarmament of Hamas, and reconstruction.
🌍Foreign Policy🏛️Government🛡️National Security
People, bills, and sources
Donald Trump
President of the United States, Board of Peace Chairman
Jared Kushner
Trump's Son-in-Law and Senior Adviser, Board Executive Committee Member
Marco Rubio
U.S. Secretary of State, Board Executive Committee Member
Steve Witkoff
Trump Special Envoy, Board Executive Committee Member
Vladimir Putin
President of Russia
Yvette Cooper
UK Foreign Secretary
Maxime Prévot
Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister
Tony Blair
Former British Prime Minister, Board Executive Committee Member
What you can do
1
civic action
Contact your representative about Board of Peace funding oversight
Demand congressional oversight of the $1 billion permanent membership structure and how U.S. taxpayer funds might be used to support the board's operations. The board operates outside traditional UN frameworks and lacks congressional authorization for spending.
Hi, I'm calling to demand congressional oversight of Trump's Board of Peace and its $1 billion membership structure.
Key points to mention:
- The board charges $1 billion for permanent membership
- Putin says Russia will pay using frozen assets held by the U.S.
- Major Western allies refused to join citing concerns about Putin's involvement
- The board may use U.S. taxpayer funds without congressional authorization
Questions to ask:
- Will Congress hold oversight hearings on the Board of Peace funding structure?
- What congressional authorization exists for U.S. participation in this board?
- How will Congress ensure U.S. funds aren't used to legitimize authoritarian regimes?
Specific request: I want Congress to investigate the Board of Peace, hold hearings on its funding structure, and require congressional authorization before any U.S. taxpayer funds support its operations.
Thank you for your time.
2
civic action
Support transparency advocates demanding Board of Peace charter disclosure
Organizations like the Government Accountability Project and Project On Government Oversight are pushing for full disclosure of the Board of Peace charter, membership agreements, and financial arrangements. Contact them to support transparency efforts.
info@pogo.org
I'm contacting you to support transparency efforts around Trump's Board of Peace.
Key information:
- The board's 11-page charter doesn't mention Gaza despite its original purpose
- Permanent membership costs $1 billion
- Putin offered to pay using frozen Russian assets
- Major allies refused to join
How I can help:
- Share information about the board's lack of transparency
- Contact my representatives to demand disclosure
- Amplify POGO's work on this issue
Questions:
- What FOIA requests has POGO filed about the Board of Peace?
- How can citizens support transparency efforts?
Thank you for your work on government accountability.
3
civic action
File complaint about pay-to-play diplomacy with House Foreign Affairs Committee
Submit formal complaint about the $1 billion membership structure creating a two-tiered system where wealthy nations and autocrats can buy permanent influence over U.S. foreign policy through the Board of Peace.
Subject: Complaint Regarding Board of Peace Pay-to-Play Structure
Dear House Foreign Affairs Committee,
I am writing to file a complaint about the Board of Peace's $1 billion permanent membership structure.
Key concerns:
- The $1 billion fee creates a two-tiered system favoring wealthy nations
- Putin offered to pay using frozen Russian assets held by the U.S.
- Major democratic allies refused to join while autocratic regimes signed on
- The board may rival the UN without congressional oversight
Specific request: I request that the committee investigate the Board of Peace's membership structure, hold oversight hearings, and determine whether this constitutes a pay-to-play scheme that allows foreign governments to buy influence over U.S. foreign policy.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.