At a gathering of business leaders, Donald Trump suggested that there are times when a dictator is necessary, raising concerns about his intentions at the World Economic Forum in Davos. He proposed the establishment of a “Board of Peace,” purportedly to promote peace in the Middle East, but speculations suggest it could be a rival authoritarian body to the United Nations. Under the draft constitution, Trump would serve as a lifelong chairman with full control over the substantial $1 billion membership fee required from permanent members, many of which are governed by authoritarian leaders.
While some countries have joined the initiative, others like France, Norway, Slovenia, Italy, and Sweden have declined membership, and countries like the UK, China, Germany, and Russia are yet to make a commitment. Out of the 20 current member nations, only Argentina and Israel are classified as “free” according to Freedom House’s report, with the rest falling into categories of “not free” or “partly free.”
During a CEO meeting at the summit, Trump defended his remarks on the need for a dictator, claiming they were based on common sense rather than political ideology. The exact number of countries expected to join the Board of Peace remains uncertain, with estimates varying between 30 and 60 invitations, and only 18 confirmations received so far. Trump expressed optimism about the board’s prospects, indicating strong interest among the invited countries, including the possible involvement of the Pope and the Holy See.
When asked if the new board could potentially replace the United Nations, Trump responded, “It might.”