In the USA, the establishment of a new international organization called the 'Council of Peace' has been announced, initiated by the former president of the country, Donald Trump. According to the creators' intent, the structure is meant to serve as a platform for resolving global crises; however, due to its format and declared functions, it is effectively viewed as an alternative to the United Nations.
The signing ceremony of the founding documents took place at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Representatives from Middle Eastern and South American countries participated in the event, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina, and Paraguay. Among those present were Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. At the same time, on stage next to Trump were representatives from fewer than 20 countries, none of whom were traditional Western European allies of the United States.
Speaking at the ceremony, Donald Trump stated that the Council of the World intends to engage with other international organizations, including the UN. Following this, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt officially announced the creation of a new international structure. After the announcement, leaders and representatives of the participating countries approached Trump in turn to sign the documents.
Initially, the Council of the World was conceived as a temporary body to manage the Gaza Strip after the end of hostilities under Trump's peace plan. However, as follows from the organization's charter, its powers will turn out to be significantly broader. The Council will be able to address issues of international security, humanitarian governance, and post-war reconstruction, making it a de facto alternative to existing global institutions.
According to the charter, Donald Trump himself will become the chairman of the Council of the World. Countries are offered lifetime membership on the condition of a one-time contribution of one billion dollars. Invitations to join the Council have been sent to about 60 countries, including Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. On January 20, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko was the first among European leaders to sign the document on joining the new organization. At the same time, a number of European countries announced their intention to refuse participation, including due to the presence of Russia on the invitation list.
Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed receipt of the invitation and stated that Moscow is ready to transfer one billion dollars from blocked Russian assets in the US to the Council of the World. According to him, these funds can be transferred even before a final decision is made on the format of Russia's participation in the work of the new structure.