Donald Trump is planning a new Peace Council with a $1 billion fee for permanent membership, prompting criticism it may compete with the UN.
Peace Council Structure
According to a draft statute obtained by Bloomberg, Donald Trump is to be the first chairman of the Peace Council and decide on the admission of other members. Decisions would be made by a majority vote, with each member having one vote, but would ultimately be approved by the chairman.
A member’s term cannot exceed three years but can be extended by the chairman. The draft statute states that the three-year period would apply to members who contribute $1 billion to the Peace Council.
UN Alternative?
The Peace Council is described as an “international organization whose goal is to promote stability, restore reliable and lawful governance, and ensure lasting peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict.” According to Bloomberg, critics of the concept argue that Trump is trying to build an organization competitive with the UN.
An unnamed US official confirmed to journalists that initial access to the Peace Council would be free, while the $1 billion fee would ensure permanent membership. The funds are to be used for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
White House Clarification
In online discussions of the Bloomberg article, it was suggested that a payment of $1 billion would be a condition for joining the council, which the Trump administration denied. “There is no minimum fee for joining the Peace Council,” the White House emphasized in a short post on X, while simultaneously confirming the Bloomberg reports.
“It will simply enable permanent membership for countries that demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity,” the statement read.
Israel Objects, US Responds
On Friday, the White House announced that the Peace Council for the Gaza Strip would include US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff. The council would also include Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, American billionaire businessman Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump advisor Robert Gabriel.
The executive board for the Gaza Strip would include, among others, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi. Israel objects to their presence on the board. In a recent speech, Netanyahu emphasized that the US-published composition was not consulted with Israeli authorities. Axios reports how Netanyahu’s criticism was received in Washington. “This is our show, not his. In recent months, we have done things in Gaza that no one thought were possible before. We intend to continue our actions,” said one US official anonymously.