Who Are the New Board of Peace Members? Inside the Historic Appointments Shaping Global Diplomacy

(Lead) U.S. President Donald Trump formally launched the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, unveiling a membership roster that already counts 35 nations and an executive team stacked with high-profile political figures, business leaders and diplomats. What is the Board of Peace? The new body is designed to coordinate diplomatic, financial and security efforts to end conflicts—starting with the Gaza war—while positioning itself as a faster, more “action-oriented” alternative to the United Nations. Member states receive three-year terms, but those willing to contribute $1 billion secure permanent status and a vote on long-term strategy. Current Board of Peace members According to the White House and multiple diplomats, the following countries have publicly accepted invitations so far: • Middle East: Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Egypt • Europe & Central Asia: Turkey, Hungary, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kosovo, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan • Asia-Pacific & Americas: Indonesia, Vietnam, Paraguay, Pakistan, Morocco More nations—including Canada, Britain, Germany and Japan—say they are “reviewing” the offer, while Norway, Sweden and Italy have already declined. Executive Board lineup • Marco Rubio – U.S. Secretary of State (Vice-Chair) • Steve Witkoff – U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East • Tony Blair – Former U.K. Prime Minister • Jared Kushner – Senior Advisor and Trump’s son-in-law These four sit alongside Trump, who retains veto power over all resolutions. Why some allies are hesitant European capitals worry the initiative duplicates U.N. functions and concentrates too much leverage in Washington. France has hinted it will reject the offer unless governance rules are revised, prompting Trump to threaten a 200 percent tariff on French wine. Italy cites constitutional limits on joining a foreign-led peace body. Meanwhile, Russia and China—both U.N. Security Council veto holders—remain silent, wary of any mechanism that might erode their global influence. Cost of a permanent seat Trump’s draft charter pegs the price of lifetime membership at $1 billion, money earmarked for reconstruction in Gaza and future stabilization missions. Diplomats say several Gulf states are weighing the buy-in to secure a louder voice in post-war Gaza planning. What happens next • Davos signing ceremony: a public roll-call of early adopters and the unveiling of the interim headquarters, expected to be in Abu Dhabi. • First task force: drafting a Gaza reconstruction blueprint, with a six-month progress report due to the U.N. Security Council. • Membership deadline: governments have until March 31 to join the inaugural three-year term; after that, late entries must meet stricter funding benchmarks. Bottom line With an ambitious price tag and an A-list of founding members, the Board of Peace is fast becoming the most talked-about diplomatic experiment of 2026. Whether it evolves into a credible conflict-resolution engine—or sparks yet another turf war with the U.N.—will hinge on how many more heavyweight nations sign on before the spring deadline.