• Israel, Egypt, Bahrain and other nations announce participation while France, Norway and Sweden decline
• Charter grants Trump veto power over all decisions and authority to interpret the agreement
• Signing ceremony scheduled for Thursday in Davos with approximately 25 countries expected

DAVOS, SWITZERLAND (TDR) — President Donald Trump's newly created Board of Peace is rapidly gaining members while simultaneously exposing deep divisions among Western nations, as the initiative originally designed to oversee Gaza's reconstruction transforms into a broader conflict-resolution body that some fear could challenge the United Nations.

On Wednesday, the rift sharpened as Israel, Egypt, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Kosovo announced they would join the board, while Norway and Sweden followed France in declining the invitation. A White House official said about 30 countries are expected to sign on, with 50 having received invitations.

"I think we have north of 20, maybe 25 world leaders who have already accepted."

U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff offered that assessment Wednesday in an interview with CNBC, as the administration prepared for a formal signing ceremony at the World Economic Forum on Thursday.

Charter Raises Alarm Among Allies

The Board of Peace charter, a draft of which has been obtained by multiple news outlets, grants Trump sweeping authority over the organization. As chairman, he holds veto power over all decisions and final authority regarding the meaning, interpretation and application of the agreement.

"The Board of Peace is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict."

That language from the charter notably makes no direct reference to Gaza, signaling the administration's ambitions extend far beyond the devastated Palestinian territory.

Asked Tuesday whether he envisioned the new body replacing the United Nations, Trump replied bluntly.

"It might. The UN just hasn't been very helpful. I'm a big fan of the UN's potential, but it has never lived up to its potential. The UN should have settled every one of the wars that I settled."

France Leads European Opposition

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot articulated the concerns driving several Western nations to decline participation.

"Yes to implementing the peace plan presented by the president of the United States, which we wholeheartedly support, but no to creating an organization as it has been presented, which would replace the United Nations."

Trump responded to France's refusal by threatening 200% tariffs on French wines and Champagne, warning that President Emmanuel Macron would face economic consequences for staying out.

"Well, nobody wants him because he's going to be out of office very soon. I'll put a 200% tariff on his wines and Champagnes and he'll join. But he doesn't have to join."

Norway's State Secretary Kristoffer Thoner announced his country would not participate in the signing ceremony, citing unresolved questions about the arrangement.

"The American proposal raises a number of questions that requires further dialogue with the United States. Norway will therefore not join the proposed arrangements for the Board of Peace."

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said on the sidelines of Davos that his country would not sign up as the charter currently stands.

Billion Dollar Membership Fee

The charter's financial requirements have blindsided world leaders. Countries seeking permanent membership must contribute $1 billion to a fund controlled by chairman Trump, otherwise they serve three-year terms.

"Not every country that has the ability to fork out $1 billion is necessarily best-suited to oversee peace and security in the international arena."

That observation came from a U.N. spokesperson quoted by CNN, highlighting concerns about the pay-to-play structure. A U.S. official said the billion-dollar commitment is not technically an entry fee and there is no mandatory funding obligation.

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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country would join in principle but made clear Canada would not pay the fee. The terms would need to be discussed, he added.

Germany offered a guarded response, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's spokesperson Stefan Kornelius saying Berlin shares the aim of serving peace but that the United Nations remains the central multilateral framework for international crises.

Netanyahu Reverses Course

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday that he would join the Board of Peace, reversing his earlier criticism of the body's executive committee. His office had previously said the committee's composition, which includes Turkey, was not coordinated with Israel and ran contrary to its policy.

"There will not be Turkish soldiers and Qatari soldiers in the (Gaza) Strip."

Netanyahu made that declaration Monday even as he signaled the disagreement would not harm his relationship with Trump. Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich dismissed the Board of Peace as a raw deal for Israel and called for its dissolution.

Russia and Belarus Invited

The invitation list has drawn scrutiny for including Russian President Vladimir Putin despite Moscow's ongoing war in Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Putin is reviewing the offer and will seek clarity on all nuances.

Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, a key Russian ally, is ready to participate, according to his country's foreign ministry. A European official quoted by Bloomberg called Russia's invitation farcical given Putin's invasion of Ukraine and warned it confirmed the dilemma facing the continent.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer declined to endorse the board, saying he has concerns about Russia's potential involvement and would talk with allies about a response.

"Putin's role is concerning."

Growing Coalition of Members

Despite Western hesitation, the Board of Peace has attracted a diverse membership. The United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Argentina and Armenia have all announced they will participate. King Mohammed VI of Morocco became the first Arab leader to formally accept.

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Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called the invitation an honor and confirmed Prime Minister Viktor Orban would participate. Italy's Giorgia Meloni has pitched herself as a mediator ready to do her part.

The executive committee tasked with implementing the board's vision includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, World Bank President Ajay Banga and Apollo Global Management CEO Marc Rowan.

Irish Foreign Minister Helen McEntee warned that the body proposed by Trump would have a mandate wider than implementing the Gaza peace plan.

"The United Nations has a unique mandate to maintain international peace and security, and the legitimacy to bring nations together to find common solutions to shared challenges. While it may be imperfect, the UN and the primacy of international law is more important now than ever."

Will Trump's Board of Peace emerge as a legitimate alternative to the United Nations, or will Western resistance limit its influence to nations already aligned with the administration?

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