Trump Invites Global Leaders to Join Expansive Board
Donald Trump Board of Peace world leaders 2026
President Donald Trump has officially expanded his diplomatic horizons by inviting a diverse group of world leaders and high-profile figures to join his newly formed “Board of Peace” (BoP). While initially conceived as a transitional body to oversee the reconstruction and administration of the Gaza Strip following the UN-mandated resolution in late 2025, the BoP is rapidly evolving into a permanent international organization with a much broader mandate. In formal letters sent on Friday, January 16, 2026, Trump outlined a vision for the board to serve as a “nimble and effective” alternative to existing international institutions, specifically targeting global crises in regions such as Ukraine, Venezuela, and the South Caucasus. The President described the initiative on social media as the “Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled,” emphasizing its role in moving beyond traditional diplomacy toward transactional, results-oriented peace-building.+2
The list of invited “founding members” includes several prominent heads of state who have already signaled their intent to participate. Among them are Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Argentine President Javier Milei, and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Milei, a staunch ally of the administration, publicly accepted the invitation, calling it an “honor” to stand with countries confronting global instability head-on. Other leaders reportedly receiving invitations include Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama. The board’s structure is further supported by a “Founding Executive Board” announced on January 17, which features Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. This executive arm will handle the day-to-day operations of stabilization, capital mobilization, and governance capacity-building in conflict zones.+4
Diplomatic observers and officials within the Trump administration suggest that the Board of Peace is intended to function as a “parallel” body to the United Nations, which the administration has repeatedly criticized as “wasteful and ineffective.” The BoP’s charter focuses on “common-sense solutions” and “shared burdens,” notably requiring permanent member nations to contribute $1 billion into a dedicated fund under the chairman’s direct control. While the UN Security Council resolution that authorized the board currently limits its legal mandate to Gaza through 2027, the inclusion of leaders from diverse regions suggests an “aspirational” move toward a global reach. Critics, however, have raised concerns that the body could be used to sidestep long-standing international norms regarding sovereignty in favor of unilateral, U.S.-led dealmaking.+1
The first official meeting of the Board of Peace is expected to take place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, during the week of January 19, 2026. This summit will likely serve as the platform for a formal unveiling of the full membership roster and a more detailed roadmap for its global expansion. As the administration continues to withdraw the United States from various UN agencies and climate treaties, the BoP stands as the center of Trump’s 2026 foreign policy agenda. Whether the board can effectively mediate complex conflicts like the Russia-Ukraine war remains to be seen, but its formation has already fundamentally shifted the landscape of international relations, positioning the United States as the central arbiter of a new, transactional world order.
