Trump's peace council sparks global fears over UN role

Monday 19 January 2026 - 14:00

By: Dakir Madiha

Trump's peace council sparks global fears over UN role

President Donald Trump's newly unveiled Peace Council has drawn cautious responses from governments worldwide, with diplomats warning that the U.S.-led body could undermine the United Nations and fracture the post-World War II international order.

Invitations to join the council, which Trump would chair for life, began arriving in about 60 countries' capitals over the weekend, particularly in Europe. Initially pitched to oversee the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and Gaza reconstruction, a draft charter circulated with the invites omits Gaza, outlining instead ambitions for a body tackling global conflicts. "It's a 'Trump version' of the UN that ignores the UN Charter's foundations," one diplomat told Reuters, capturing anonymous concerns from several Western officials.

Membership comes at a cost. The charter, reviewed by multiple outlets, grants three-year terms to members unless they contribute $1 billion in the council's first year for permanent status. A U.S. official told CNBC there are no initial fees, but the billion-dollar pledge secures permanence, with funds earmarked for Gaza rebuilding. The White House announced the founding executive committee Friday, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and World Bank President Ajay Banga.

Among invitees, only Hungary issued an unequivocal acceptance. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a close Trump ally, posted on X that Hungary had "of course accepted this honorable invitation." Vietnam Communist Party chief Tô Lâm confirmed acceptance, as did Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday, voicing commitment to Middle East peace. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney accepted "in principle" for Gaza peace efforts, pending details, while Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy stands "ready to do its part."

The council's mandate received UN Security Council approval in November 2025, limited to 2027 and Gaza only. Russia and China abstained, citing unclear oversight and no explicit two-state solution reaffirmation. Trump's broader scope in invitation letters has fueled alarm. UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock warned that challenging the UN's role risks plunging the world into "very, very dark times." UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq responded measuredly, noting Secretary-General Antonio Guterres views member states as free to form groups while the UN continues its mandated work.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office issued a rare rebuke, stating the Gaza executive council's composition "was not coordinated with Israel and contradicts its policy." Israeli officials oppose executive involvement from Turkey and Qatar due to Turkey's Hamas ties and strained Qatar relations. Palestinian Islamic Jihad criticized the lineup, claiming it serves Israeli interests and harbors "negative intentions" on ceasefire implementation.

As world leaders weigh responses ahead of an expected announcement at the Davos World Economic Forum, the core question lingers: does Trump's initiative offer an innovative path to global peace consolidation, or a unilateral challenge to decades-built multilateral institutions?