Several other leaders have received invitations but have so far declined to commit or said they are still mulling their participation, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Some fear Trump could seek to create a shadow United Nations, which he has long lambasted as ineffective, as the board’s charter makes no direct reference to Gaza and gives it a broad mandate to resolve global conflicts. Trump for his part said Tuesday his board “might” replace the U.N. but added, “I believe you got to let the U.N. continue because the potential is so great.”
French President Emmanuel Macron rejected the offer outright, with his office saying the board’s charter “goes beyond the framework of Gaza and raises serious questions” about whether it could undermine the U.N.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is considering an invitation but criticized Trump’s decision to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“For me, it is very difficult to imagine how we and Russia would be together on a board,” Zelenskyy said. “And this isn’t about the ‘Board of Peace.’ It’s just that Russia is all about a ‘board of war.’ And Belarus as well.”
Putin’s potential inclusion drew further backlash from Poland, where an aide to President Karol Nawrocki, a Trump ally, said the Kremlin was “at odds” with Warsaw.
According to the Trump administration, countries seeking a permanent seat on the board must contribute at least $1 billion. Those that do not will be limited to a three-year term. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said that while he would join, Ottawa would not cough up the membership fee.
The board’s executive committee is set to include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner and World Bank President Ajay Banga.