India invited to Trump’s “Board of Peace”
What is the Board of Peace?
A proposed international body under a peace plan for Gaza, originally announced in September 2025.
Concept:
Gaza to be governed by a technocratic, apolitical Palestinian committee
Supervised by an international body called the Board of Peace
Chair:
Donald Trump (personally, not as an office-holder)
Evolution of the idea
Original version (UN-approved)
Approved by the United Nations in November 2025
Mandate:
Limited to Gaza
Temporary (till end of 2027)
No provision for:
Permanent membership
Global conflict resolution
Current version (as per Charter sent to India)
Envisioned as:
A new International Organization
A “Transitional Governing Administration”
Scope expanded:
Not limited to Gaza
Aims to resolve global conflicts
Does not explicitly mention Gaza in the Charter
Seen by critics as a “parallel UN”
Membership details
Invitations sent to ~60 countries
Invitees include:
Hungary, Albania, Greece, Canada, Turkey, Cyprus
Egypt, Jordan, Paraguay, Argentina
Pakistan (earlier), India (January 2026)
Membership terms:
3-year tenure, OR
Permanent membership by paying $1 billion in the first year
Leadership and governance concerns
Chairmanship
Charter states:
Donald Trump is inaugural Chairman
Continues as Chairman even if he is not US President
Removal of Chairman:
Only by voluntary resignation, or
Unanimous vote of an Executive Board dominated by his appointees
Successor to be designated by Trump himself
➡ Raises serious issues of accountability and institutional independence
Executive Board – Founding members
Marco Rubio
Steve Witkoff
Jared Kushner
Tony Blair
Marc Rowan (US businessman)
Ajay Banga
Robert Gabriel (US National Security Adviser)
Why is it controversial?
Sovereignty concerns
Member countries must:
Consent to be bound by the Charter
Accepting means:
A sovereign state joins an organisation permanently chaired by an individual
Even when that individual holds no constitutional office
UN bypass issue
Trump has:
Publicly criticised the UN
Cut US funding to UN bodies
Board of Peace:
Mimics UN-style charter (13 Articles)
Has provisions on membership, funding, dispute resolution
Perception:
Attempt to bypass or undermine the UN Security Council
Mandate ambiguity
Charter empowers Board to act in regions:
“Affected by conflict”
“Threatened by conflict” (undefined)
Risk:
Overreach into sovereign affairs
Subjective interpretation of “threat”
India-specific dilemmas
Accepting invite raises questions on:
Strategic autonomy
Commitment to UN-led multilateralism
Precedent of pay-to-be-permanent member
India traditionally supports:
UN reform, not replacement
Sovereignty and non-intervention
International response
Hungary: First country to announce acceptance
Others: Still evaluating
Human rights groups:
Compare the structure to colonial trusteeship
Scholars:
Call it “Trump’s new UN”
Prelims Practice MCQs
Q. The “Board of Peace”, recently in the news, was originally proposed in the context of:
(a) Ukraine–Russia conflict
(b) Afghanistan’s political transition
(c) Post-conflict governance of Gaza
(d) UN reform negotiations
Correct answer: (c)
Explanation:
The Board of Peace was proposed under a Gaza peace plan, envisaging temporary transitional governance after a ceasefire.
Q. With reference to the Board of Peace, consider the following statements:
It was initially approved by the United Nations with a limited mandate.
Its original mandate was restricted to Gaza and time-bound.
Permanent membership was part of the original UN-approved plan.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Correct answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
Statement 3 is incorrect: Permanent membership did not exist in the original plan.
Q. Consider the following individuals:
Marco Rubio
Tony Blair
Ajay Banga
António Guterres
Which of the above are founding Executive Board members of the Board of Peace?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 4 only
(c) 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Correct answer: (a)
Explanation:
Marco Rubio, Tony Blair, and Ajay Banga are listed members.
António Guterres is the UN Secretary-General and not part of the Board.