In a move that has left traditional US allies bewildered, President Donald Trump has launched a new international organisation he calls the “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Touted as a replacement for the United Nations, this pay-to-play club is made up of a motley crew of autocrats, Middle Eastern monarchies and other leaders seeking Trump’s favour.
Rather than focusing on the Gaza ceasefire agreement it was originally envisioned to oversee, the Board’s charter has been expanded to cover a much broader remit of “promoting stability, restoring governance, and securing lasting peace in conflict-affected areas.” This appears to be a transparent attempt by Trump to position himself as a global peacemaker and secure a Nobel Peace Prize, which he has long coveted.
However, the Board’s membership conspicuously lacks any of America’s traditional allies, with countries like France, the UK and Canada opting out. Instead, Trump has surrounded himself with leaders from nations like Argentina, Turkey, Hungary and Pakistan – many of whom share his disdain for “woke” concerns like human rights.
Experts argue that this new organisation is less about achieving lasting peace and more about stroking Trump’s ego and creating an alternative to the UN that he can control. With the president able to serve as the Board’s chairman for life and handpick its members, it seems the “Board of Peace” is simply a symbol of his own isolation after alienating America’s closest partners.
Whether the Board’s efforts in Gaza will succeed remains to be seen. But as long as Trump can take credit for any progress, he appears content to bask in the adulation of his dues-paying autocratic friends – the only ones left standing by his side after his Davos debacle.
