Will Russia and Ukraine Sit Together on Trump’s Board?

News Desk 

Islamabad: The Trump administration has launched plans for an international “Board of Peace” and invited countries to join, with a $1 billion fee for permanent membership, according to a charter reviewed by AFP.

Originally intended to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction, the board’s mandate is broader, aiming to promote stability and governance in conflict-affected areas worldwide.

The board will be chaired by former US President Donald Trump, who will also serve as the US’s inaugural representative.

According to the charter, Trump will have exclusive authority to create or dissolve subsidiary bodies, appoint executive board members, adopt resolutions, and cast deciding votes in case of ties.

Chairmanship can only end through voluntary resignation or incapacity.

Member states must be invited by the US president and represented by their head of state or government. Regular membership terms last up to three years, but countries contributing $1 billion in the first year will secure permanent membership. Voting will occur at least annually, with each state having one vote, subject to chairman approval.

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The executive board, responsible for operationalising the organisation, will include Trump alongside high-profile figures such as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, Jared Kushner, Ajay Banga, Marc Rowan, and Robert Gabriel.

Dozens of countries have received invitations, including China, India, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Egypt, Argentina, Jordan, Brazil, Paraguay, Pakistan, and a host of European and Asian nations. While Canada has agreed to participate, it has ruled out paying the $1 billion fee. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a staunch Trump supporter, has also confirmed participation.

Some countries have expressed hesitations. France has opted out, prompting Trump to threaten high tariffs on French wine. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky highlighted the difficulty of sitting on a council alongside Russia, with diplomats reportedly working to resolve the issue.

The board’s charter states it will come into effect once three countries formally consent to be bound by it.

The initiative, blending diplomacy, international finance, and Trump’s personal leadership, has already sparked debate over its legitimacy, structure, and the unprecedented requirement for billion-dollar contributions to secure permanent membership.