New Zealand Declines Invitation To Join Trump’s Board Of Peace
New Zealand has formally declined an invitation from U.S. President Donald Trump to join his newly created “Board of Peace,” citing a lack of clarity about the body’s role and concerns about how it fits with existing international institutions.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon confirmed the decision on Friday, saying New Zealand would not join the board “in its current form.” The move places Wellington among a growing group of U.S. allies that are keeping their distance from the initiative.
What Is Trump’s Board of Peace?
The board was proposed in September 2025 and formally established as an official international organization on the sidelines of the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in January 2026.
Initially, the Board of Peace presented it as a small group of leaders to help oversee his plan for Gaza’s future and support a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Since then, Trump has expanded the idea, suggesting the board could mediate conflicts worldwide, a shift that has raised concerns among diplomats and international organizations.
The board is chaired by Trump himself and, under its charter, permanent members must contribute $1 billion to a fund controlled by the chair.
Trump would retain veto power over decisions and membership and would lead the body until he resigns. Other announced executive board members include Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
New Zealand’s Reasons for Saying No
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said New Zealand did not believe it would add “significant further value” to the board’s work, particularly on Gaza, where several regional states are already involved.
Peters also emphasized New Zealand’s long-standing support for the United Nations, saying any new peace initiative must align with the UN Charter.
“It is a new body, and we need clarity on its scope, now and in the future,” Peters said in a post on X.
Australia Still Undecided
Australia has not yet made a decision. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government was still considering Trump’s invitation, noting uncertainty about the board’s objectives.
Speaking on ABC’s Insiders, Albanese said Australia remains committed to multilateralism and highlighted its role as a founding member of the United Nations.
He later said his government was also focused on domestic issues, while pointing to Australia’s security ties with the United States through AUKUS, the Quad, and bilateral cooperation.
UN Pushback and Legal Limits
Trump’s suggestion that the Board of Peace could one day replace the UN Security Council has been dismissed by UN officials. Secretary-General António Guterres said responsibility for international peace and security rests with the Security Council alone.
“Only the Security Council can adopt decisions binding on all,” Guterres said, adding that global problems cannot be solved by “one power calling the shots.”
The UN Security Council did approve a limited role for the Board of Peace in Gaza, but only until 2027 and strictly within the context of reconstruction and coordination. Russia and China abstained from that vote, citing concerns about the UN’s role being sidelined.
Who Has Joined and Who Has Not
More than 25 countries have agreed to join the Board of Peace so far. Participants include Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Indonesia, Pakistan, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates.
Eight Muslim-majority countries issued a joint statement supporting the board’s role in Gaza and Palestinian statehood, but did not endorse Trump’s broader global vision.
No major European power has joined. Countries that have declined include the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Ireland. Canada’s invitation was revoked after its prime minister warned that smaller nations must work together to prevent domination by larger powers.
Several countries, including Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Singapore, and Australia, have yet to announce a final decision.
