Donald Trump proposes a Peace Council with $1 billion fee for permanent membership, prompting criticism it’s designed to compete with the United Nations.
Peace Council: $1 Billion for Permanent Membership
According to a draft statute obtained by Bloomberg, Donald Trump is to be the first chairman of the Peace Council and decide on admitting other members. Council decisions would be made by majority vote (each member has one vote) but ultimately approved by the chairman. The document states that a member’s term cannot exceed three years but can be extended by the chairman.
Furthermore, the statute provides that the three-year period will apply to members who donate $1 billion to the Peace Council.
Instead of the UN?
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 by or threatened with conflict.” According to Bloomberg, critics of the concept suggest that Trump is trying to build an organization competitive with the UN.
An unnamed U.S. official confirmed to journalists that access to the Peace Council will be free, while the $1 billion fee will guarantee permanent membership. The funds are to be allocated for the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
White House: No Minimum Fee
In online discussions of Bloomberg’s article, information appeared that a $1 billion payment would be a condition for joining the council, which the Trump administration denied. “There is no minimum fee for entry to the Peace Council,” the White House emphasized in a brief post on X, while simultaneously confirming Bloomberg’s reports.
“It will simply enable permanent membership for countries that demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security, and prosperity,” the post read.
Israel Pushes Back. Americans: It’s Our Show
On Friday, the White House announced that the Peace Council for the Gaza Strip will include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Special Envoy for President Trump Steve Witkoff. The council will also include Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, American billionaire and businessman Marc Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Trump advisor Robert Gabriel.
Meanwhile, the executive board for the Gaza Strip includes, 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, Benjamin Netanyahu emphasized that the American-published composition was not consulted with Israeli authorities. According to Axios, an anonymous U.S. official stated, “It’s our show, not his” and added, “In recent months, we have done things in Gaza that no one previously thought possible. We intend to continue our actions.”