US President Donald Trump is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least US$1 billion.
According to a draft charter for the proposed group seen by Bloomberg, Trump would serve as its inaugural chairman and would decide on who is invited to be members. Decisions would be taken by a majority, with each member state present getting one vote, but all would be subject to the chairman’s approval.
“Each Member State shall serve a term of no more than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, subject to renewal by the Chairman. The three-year membership term shall not apply to Member States that contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force,” the draft says.
Photo: REUTERS
Critics are worried that Trump is trying to build an alternative, or rival, to the UN, which he has long criticized.
The board is described in the charter as “an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.”
It would become official once three member states agree to the charter.
Trump would also be responsible for approving the group’s official seal, the document says.
Trump has invited a number of world leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, to be part of a Board of Peace for Gaza, which would be formed under the broader umbrella of his new Board of Peace.
That plan attracted swift criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the details had not been coordinated with his country.
Several European nations have been invited to join the peace board, according to people familiar with the matter.
The draft appears to suggest Trump himself would control the money, something that would be considered unacceptable to most countries who could have potentially joined the board, said the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Several nations strongly oppose the draft of Trump’s charter and are working on collectively pushing back against the proposals, the people added.
A US official confirmed to Bloomberg News that while members would be able to join for free, the US$1 billion fee would grant permanent membership.
The money would be used directly to accomplish the board’s mandate to rebuild Gaza, the official said on condition of anonymity.
The board would ensure almost every dollar raised is used to execute its mandate, the official added.
The Board of Peace would convene voting meetings at least annually and “at such additional times and locations as the Chairman deems appropriate,” the draft charter says.
The agenda would be subject to approval by the chairman. The peace board would hold regular non-voting meetings with its executive board. Such meetings would be convened on at least a quarterly basis.
Trump would also have the power to remove a member, subject to a veto by a two-thirds majority of member states.
“The Chairman shall at all times designate a successor for the role of Chairman,” the charter says.
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