Trump invites to peace council with expensive memberships

The White House has sent invitations to several world leaders to join a peace council with Donald Trump himself as chairman. However, for those who wish to serve a longer term, there is a financial catch.

According to the Trump administration, the council aims to resolve conflicts, and for a seat of more than three years, one must pay one billion dollars.

“Each member state shall serve for a maximum of three years from the entry into force of this charter, subject to renewal by the chairman,” states the draft of the charter.

“The three-year membership period shall not apply to member states contributing more than USD 1,000,000,000 in cash to the peace council within the first year of the charter coming into force,” it continues.

The council describes itself as “an international organization striving to promote stability, restore reliable and lawful governance, and secure lasting peace in areas affected by or threatened with conflict”.

The organization was originally created to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, but its charter does not appear to limit its role to the territory.

Trump and Orban

Among those who have received invitations are Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko. Trump would have the power to remove member states from the council, subject to a veto from two-thirds of the members, and to choose his successor should he leave his role as chairman.

Trump also appointed Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, senior negotiator Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner as members.

Harsh criticism is directed at international institutions such as the UN, stating that the council should have “the courage to depart from methods and institutions that have too often failed”.