"Chairman of the globe": why does Trump need a "Peace Council" and can he oust the UN

US President Donald Trump has announced the creation of a new international organization called the Peace Council. Initially, it was assumed that she would resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip, but the White House decided to think more broadly. The charter of the authority states that its purpose is to promote the establishment of lasting peace in conflict—affected or threatened areas. Russia also received an invitation to participate in the work of the structure. Many observers regard the American initiative as an attempt to create an alternative to the UN. Izvestia dealt with the initiative of the American president.

Trump's plan

For the first time, Donald Trump's plans to create a Peace Council on Gas became known back in September last year. However, for several months the initiative remained without specifics: neither the format, nor the composition, nor the powers of the future structure were publicly disclosed.

The fact that the organization was established in the United States was announced on January 16, just a few days before the expected meeting of its participants on the sidelines of the Davos Economic Forum. "I can say with confidence that this is the greatest and most prestigious council that has ever met at any time and in any place," Trump assured.

According to media reports, proposals for participation in the Council have been sent to about 60 countries. Among the recipients are the leaders of France, Germany and Australia, the leadership of the European Union, as well as Canada, Pakistan, Paraguay and Turkey. Russian President Vladimir Putin also received an invitation.

"Yes, indeed, the president has also received an invitation through diplomatic channels to join this Peace Council," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed and added that the country's leadership is still studying the proposal.

Of the post-Soviet countries, Kazakhstan will take part in the new structure. "President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was one of the first world leaders to receive an official invitation to join the Peace Council, and Kazakhstan to become one of the founding states," Ruslan Zheldibai, the press secretary of the head of state, told reporters.

The organization's goal will be to resolve the conflict in the Gaza Strip: to help form an interim government, as well as attract funding and security forces to the region. However, according to the charter of the new structure, its tasks have significantly expanded.

"To promote stability, restore reliable and legitimate governance, and ensure lasting peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict," the document says.

Trump himself will head the organization, and for life. That is, regardless of whether he will be president of the United States or not. According to media reports, he can be dismissed from this position only if the Executive Board, which includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, his son-in-law Jared Kushner and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, unanimously recognize the Republican as incompetent.

The members of the council receive membership for three years. Permanent presence in the organization is not free: those who wish must contribute at least $ 1 billion. At the same time, it is Trump's personal prerogative to invite new members. He can also exclude new members or extend their membership at will.

The United States initially plays a key role in this construction, Natalia Eremina, Doctor of Political Science and Professor at St. Petersburg State University, notes in a conversation with Izvestia. According to her, the Council is conceived as a tool of direct influence on the leaders of the participating states of the structure. This allows Washington to push through the decisions it needs, bypassing complex multilateral procedures, and the countries themselves actually find themselves in the position of junior partners of the American president.

The devil is in the details

Western diplomats suggest that Trump is creating an organization that will deal not only with Gaza, but may become an alternative to the United Nations. There is already evidence of this suspicion: American officials are voicing the idea of expanding its role to other crises, for example, to the Ukrainian one. The relevant initiatives of the United States can be announced already in Davos.

Whether the new structure will actually be able to replace the UN is an open question. First of all, the Council's goal-setting and the very principle of forming its composition are questionable. Analysts interviewed by Izvestia agree that when selecting participants, Trump is guided primarily by personal assessments, likes and dislikes, as well as his own ideas about what is acceptable in international politics.

— As a businessman, he sees states and their leaders more as potential partners who can be useful to the United States. That is why not only the heads of countries, but also the heads of international financial institutions are among the invited guests. These are, first of all, those figures with whom Trump considers it possible and convenient to work directly, with whom he has established personal contact," political analyst Chingiz Lepsibayev tells Izvestia.

The financial factor becomes an additional filter. To sit at the same table with the American president, a contribution of $ 1 billion is required — an amount that is not accessible to everyone. For example, in Central Asia, only Kazakhstan reported on the invitation received. Poorer Countries simply cannot afford to participate in this format.

At the same time, participation in the Council may also bring certain benefits. For Russia, this is, in particular, recognition of its role in the Middle East. Moscow has already acted as an intermediary between Israel and Iran and could theoretically be involved in the reconstruction of Gaza.

— Russia has traditionally had good relations with Arab countries and the Palestinians. Russia's participation in the reconstruction of Gaza is hypothetically quite possible. Moreover, the Council is unlikely to focus on Gaza alone, and it is already being discussed that, hypothetically, the Peace Council format can be used, in particular, to resolve the situation in Ukraine," political analyst Konstantin Kalachev tells Izvestia.

According to him, if the organization's agenda goes beyond individual conflicts and covers other topics on a global scale, then it will really be able to claim the role of a structure working to strengthen the international order.

— Moreover, the UN has not demonstrated effectiveness for a long time and can only express "deep concern" about certain problems. Another thing is that Trump is going to play a leading role in the Council, and this looks like the role of "Chairman of the Globe." And here the question arises: how will China respond to this? But any search and construction of working mechanisms is good, because "nature does not tolerate emptiness." Maybe the UN will cheer up," the expert concluded.

At the same time, experts agree that Trump is forming a new coalition of countries with relatively large economies, allowing the United States to resolve international issues bypassing traditional diplomatic mechanisms. The format looks experimental and in many ways unprecedented. And amid the rapid changes in world politics, forecasts about its future remain extremely cautious.

"This is a personalized format that lacks complex bureaucracy, circulars, and multi—level procedures: decisions are made directly and situationally — "as decided, so it will be," political analyst Ilya Graschenkov tells Izvestia. — Therefore, in fact, the Peace Council is an anti-UN. The project is perceived as a demonstrative gesture and, to a certain extent, as trolling the existing system of international organizations.