Trump's Davos 'Board of Peace' Initiative Sparks Controversy Over Membership
Former US President Donald Trump has launched what he calls a Board of Peace initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, declaring that 'the world is richer, safer and much more peaceful than it was just one year ago'. This pronouncement has been met with widespread scepticism and confusion, particularly given the ongoing conflicts that continue to rage across the globe.
Questionable Claims About Global Conflicts
Trump continues to assert that he has 'put out all of those fires' by ending multiple wars. However, examining just one conflict he claims to have resolved reveals a different reality. Despite the US declaring a ceasefire in Gaza in October 2025, Israeli military actions have continued, resulting in 463 Palestinian deaths and 1,269 injuries in the subsequent three months alone.
The Board of Peace organisation, which some observers have compared to a Mafia meeting in appearance, has extended invitations to several controversial world leaders. Most notably, Russian President Vladimir Putin has been asked to join, despite facing International Criminal Court arrest warrants for alleged war crimes.
Controversial Appointments Draw Criticism
In response to Putin's invitation, UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced that Britain will not participate in the Board of Peace, citing 'concerns about President Putin being part of something which is talking about peace'. This principled stance highlights the fundamental contradictions at the heart of Trump's initiative.
Among the executive board members sits former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, whose participation has raised eyebrows given his controversial legacy. Blair has faced persistent criticism for his support of the US-led 2003 invasion of Iraq, which resulted in:
- Over 4,000 US military fatalities
- 179 UK troop deaths
- At least 200,000 Iraqi civilian casualties
Remarkably, a fifth of British citizens believe Blair should face war crimes prosecution for his role in the conflict.
Netanyahu's Inclusion Highlights Fundamental Flaws
Perhaps the most glaring contradiction comes with the reported acceptance of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Board of Peace. Netanyahu leads a government that a UN commission considers to be conducting actions amounting to genocide, making his participation in a peace initiative appear particularly incongruous.
Trump's own statements about global conflicts have further undermined the initiative's credibility. The former president has admitted that 'a lot of people didn't know, including me, that those wars were going on' – a startling admission of ignorance from someone who held the world's most powerful office.
Exclusion of Palestinian Voices
The Board of Peace demonstrates a suspicious absence of Palestinian representation or voices directly affected by the Gaza conflict. This omission speaks volumes about the initiative's true priorities and suggests it serves purposes other than genuine peacebuilding.
Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who also sits on the board, has proposed surreal redevelopment plans for Gaza that include coastal tourism projects. These proposals have been criticised as potential Trump family money-making ventures rather than genuine humanitarian efforts, with observers noting global interest in acquiring Palestinian land.
A Colonial Rebranding Exercise
Ultimately, Trump's Board of Peace appears to function as a colonial rebranding exercise rather than a genuine peace initiative. Western intervention in the region has historically contributed to Palestinian suffering under conditions that organisations including Amnesty International have characterised as apartheid.
The historical context is crucial: over a century ago, the League of Nations granted Britain authority to establish a Jewish homeland in the region, beginning a long period during which Palestinians have been denied autonomy over their land. Current developments suggest this pattern of exclusion continues.
Questionable Motivations Behind the Initiative
Available evidence suggests that Trump, Netanyahu, and Blair are primarily concerned with advancing their own financial and military interests rather than pursuing genuine peace in Palestine. The Board of Peace appears to function as a vanity project for Trump – an opportunity to demonstrate global influence without considering the consequences of his actions.
Rather than representing a genuine peacebuilding effort, the initiative has assembled what critics describe as a collection of opportunists, villains and power-hungry vultures whose participation undermines any claim to moral authority or peaceful intent.
