In between the lectures about Europe’s downfall and proclamations about an imminent agreement on the status of Greenland, President Donald Trump had another announcement to roll out in Davos this week. His “Board of Peace” is now officially inaugurated and ready to get to work on resolving the world’s long list of conflicts.
Surrounded by 19 of the leaders who agreed to partake in the new scheme, Trump described the new board as one of “the most consequential bodies” ever created in history. “Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do, and we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations”, he said. That last part is a concession of sorts: Washington’s European allies were increasingly concerned that Trump sought to use the Board of Peace as an alternative to the UN, which remains the primary international organisation for peacebuilding initiatives.
You can’t blame Trump for wanting to create a body that is leaner, less bureaucratic and more effective at striking agreements than the United Nations. is. Let’s face it: the UN system often creates as many problems as it solves, and its top decision-making unit, the Security Council, is frequently undercut by the great powers. Yet even if the motives are noble, the practicalities of getting Trump’s project up and running can’t be dismissed.
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