Thailand has been invited by U.S. President Donald Trump to join a proposed “Board of Peace,” an initiative aimed at addressing global conflicts, as diplomats in Europe and elsewhere voice caution over its potential impact on the United Nations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had received a letter from Trump outlining a Comprehensive Plan to End the Gaza Conflict, along with a U.S. proposal to establish the Board of Peace. The ministry said Thailand is currently studying the details of the initiative.
“In principle, Thailand welcomes any initiative that supports sustainable peace in the Middle East and humanitarian efforts to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinian people,” the ministry said. It added that Thailand hopes any initiative will reflect the will of the Palestinian people and receive support from countries in the region.
Thailand reaffirmed its support for ongoing efforts toward a two-state solution, with Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security, in accordance with international law and relevant UN resolutions.
Foreign diplomats said invitations were sent to around 60 countries and began arriving in European capitals on 17 January. Hungary, whose leadership is a close ally of Trump, was cited as the only country to have clearly accepted the invitation so far. Officials from several other countries, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed concern that the proposed body could undermine the role of the United Nations.
According to the invitation letter and a draft charter, the Board of Peace would be chaired by Trump for life and would initially focus on the Gaza conflict before expanding to other disputes. Member states would serve three-year terms unless they paid $1 billion annually per country to support the board’s activities in exchange for permanent membership.
The White House said on X that the offer of permanent membership was intended for partner countries demonstrating “a deep commitment to peace, security and prosperity.”
The inclusion of a draft charter alongside the invitation has heightened concerns among some European governments, with diplomats warning that the body could weaken the UN, which Trump has previously accused of obstructing his peace efforts.
One diplomat described the proposal as a “Trump-style UN” that sidelines core principles of the UN Charter. Trump wrote in the letter that the board would convene in the near future, describing it as unprecedented in scope and approach.