‘Just peace’ cannot be achieved by seeking membership in organisations that charge a joining ‘fee’, said Annalena Baerbock, President of the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday (April 28, 2026) in response to a question on the Board of Peace for Gaza Strip started by U.S. President Donald Trump in January. Speaking to journalists in New Delhi, Ms. Baerbock cautioned against ‘unilateral use of force’ while arguing that member states of the UN can mobilise themselves for an institutional action against a state that is accused of genocide by bringing the matter to the UN Security Council.
Board of Peace | The chairman’s circle
“Because every country, no matter how big or small, how powerful or rich has a seat at the table, because you will not find just peace for anybody in the world if you have to pay the fee to join it. We are witnessing growing geopolitical tensions, increasing fragmentation, and pressure on the three pillars of the United Nations — peace and security, development, and human rights,” said Ms. Baerbock in response to a question regarding her position on the creation of the Board of Peace by President Donald Trump of the United States.
The Board of Peace was launched in January under the leadership of President Trump and features 28 countries as the ‘founding members’ of the group that is primarily tasked with stopping the war in Gaza Strip where Israel has been carrying out a military campaign following the October 7, 2023, attack by Hamas. A draft concept note of the Board of Peace had mentioned that members of the board would have to pay $1 billion to be part of the group.
