Politics News
Trump's Board of Peace names 26 founding members as France, Germany and the UK stay out
The Board of Peace led by US President Donald Trump named 26 countries as founding members on Wednesday, January 28, six days after Trump launched it at a signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Pakistan's Dawn listed them, among them Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Egypt, Turkiye, Indonesia, Hungary, Argentina, Vietnam, Belarus and Pakistan. France, Germany and the UK are not on the list.
ABC News explained what the body is. It was first set up with a two-year UN Security Council mandate to manage Gaza's rebuilding, but its charter does not mention Gaza and describes it as an “international organization” and “peacebuilding body”, which some see as a US-led alternative to the UN. A draft charter offered permanent membership to states contributing more than $1 billion in cash in the first year; a US official said contributions are voluntary, not an entry fee.
“This is the greatest board ever assembled, and everybody wants to be on it.” — Donald Trump, via ABC News
ABC News reported that France, Norway and Sweden declined or raised serious objections, and that UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper cited concerns about Russia's invitation. Dawn added that Trump rescinded Canada's invitation after Prime Minister Mark Carney's Davos speech, and that Russia was not on the list even though Vladimir Putin offered $1 billion from frozen Russian assets.
How each outlet framed it
- ABC News — the structure and the doubts: a chairmanship Trump could hold for life, the $1 billion seat and the European allies who stayed away.
- Dawn — the membership list and Pakistan's place among the founders, with the board welcoming Pakistan on X.
What we don't know yet: How the board will work alongside the UN on Gaza. Dawn noted Ukraine's question of how it could take part alongside Russia and Belarus.