United News of Bangladesh

US President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, initially conceived as a small group of world leaders to oversee the Gaza ceasefire, is rapidly expanding into a far more ambitious international body that Trump says could one day broker global conflicts and rival the United Nations Security Council. Trump is due to travel to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where more details about the initiative are expected. Ahead of the trip, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday that he had agreed to join the board, reversing his earlier criticism of its Gaza oversight committee. Although the board’s charter has not yet been officially released, a draft obtained by the Associated Press suggests that sweeping authority would be concentrated in Trump’s hands. The document says countries that contribute $1 billion in cash during their first year would be granted permanent membership. A far broader mission than Gaza The Trump administration now appears to be positioning the Board of Peace as a global conflict-resolution body, far beyond its original focus on Gaza. In invitation letters sent to world leaders last Friday, Trump said the board would “embark on a bold new approach to resolving global conflict,” language that signals an ambition to operate as a rival to the UN Security Council. A draft charter, shared by a European diplomat and confirmed by a US official as accurate as of Monday, describes the need for a more “nimble and effective international peace-building body” and calls for departing from institutions that “have too often failed.” It says the board aims to “secure peace in places where it has for too long proven elusive.” Under the draft, the chairman — a role Trump says he will hold — would have the authority to invite member states, break tie votes, determine how often the board meets and create or dissolve subsidiary bodies. Member states would serve three-year terms and fund the board’s operations. Those paying more than $1 billion in cash during their first year could secure a permanent seat. US officials cautioned that the charter remains under constant revision and is not final. Countries invited and confirmed So far, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Argentina and Belarus have agreed to participate. Netanyahu’s decision marks a change in position. His office had earlier objected to the Gaza executive committee, citing the inclusion of Turkey, a regional rival of Israel. Invitation letters have also been sent to Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Russia, India, Slovenia, Thailand and the European Union’s executive arm have confirmed receiving invitations. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia is reviewing the proposal and seeking clarification on its details. Trump confirmed on Monday night that Russian President Vladimir Putin had been invited. It remains unclear how many more countries will ultimately be asked to join. Some allies say no France has signalled it does not plan to join, amid tensions with Washington over Trump’s interest in taking over Greenland, a self-governing territory under NATO ally Denmark. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris supports implementing Trump’s peace plan but opposes creating a new organisation that would replace the United Nations. Reacting to reports that French President Emmanuel Macron was unlikely to participate, Trump said, “Nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon,” and joked about imposing tariffs on French wine to pressure him to join. Other bodies linked to the Board of Peace The White House said an executive board will be formed to implement the Board of Peace’s vision. Its members include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British prime minister Tony Blair, Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Trump’s deputy national security adviser Robert Gabriel. Another body, the Gaza Executive Board, will oversee the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal, including deploying an international security force, disarming Hamas and rebuilding the territory. Read More: Netanyahu confirms Israel’s participation in Trump’s proposed Board of Peace Former UN Mideast envoy Nickolay Mladenov will manage day-to-day operations. Other members include Witkoff, Kushner, Blair, Rowan, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi, Egypt’s intelligence chief Hassan Rashad, Emirati minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli businessman Yakir Gabay and former Dutch deputy prime minister Sigrid Kaag.