DAVOS, Switzerland: US President Donald Trump on Thursday launched his Board of Peace, initially focused on cementing Gaza’s ceasefire but which he said could take a wider role that may worry other global powers, although he said it would work with the United Nations.
“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do. And we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,” Trump said, adding that the UN had great potential that had not been fully utilized.
Trump, who will chair the board, invited dozens of other world leaders to join, saying he wants it to address challenges beyond the stuttering Gaza truce, stirring misgivings that it could undermine the UN’s role as the main platform for global diplomacy and conflict resolution.
Other major global powers and traditional Western US allies have balked at joining the board, which Trump says permanent members must help fund with a payment of $1 billion each, either responding cautiously or declining the invitation.
Representatives from countries introduced as founder members were present in the room as Trump spoke. But Reuters could not immediately spot any representatives from governments of other top global powers or from Israel or the Palestinian Authority.
