Americast – "Everything you need to know about Donald Trump’s Board of Peace"

BBC News
Date: February 18, 2026

Overview

This episode of Americast focuses on the upcoming inaugural meeting of Donald Trump's "Board of Peace," a new international body slated to play a significant role in conflict resolution—with ambitions well beyond its original Gaza remit. Hosts Sarah Smith and Anthony Zurcher analyze the institution's structure, motivations, international reaction, and the potential implications for global diplomacy and U.S. domestic politics. The discussion is peppered with exclusive reporting, listener questions, and soundbites from recent international gatherings.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. What is the Board of Peace?

[02:03–04:07]

• Initial Purpose: Announced by Donald Trump in September 2025, originally to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.
• Expansion: Its scope now appears to extend toward general global conflict resolution, potentially rivaling the United Nations (UN).
• UN’s Role: The Board of Peace was authorized specifically by the UN Security Council to implement the Gaza ceasefire agreement but not for broader initiatives.

Anthony:
"According to leaked documents...Donald Trump’s ambitions for this Board of Peace is a kind of an international organization that would rival the United Nations." (03:20)

2. Structure and Membership

[04:07–06:36]

• Composition:

  • Appointed members include Tony Blair (former UK PM), Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff (special envoy).
  • Membership for nations comes by invitation (three-year seats), or permanently with a $1 billion payment.
  • Accepted countries: Israel, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt, and others like Albania, Armenia, Hungary, Kazakhstan.
  • Notable rejections: UK, France, Norway, Sweden; the Vatican (Pope) also declined.

• Trump’s Control:

  • He is "Chairman for life," handpicks his successor, and holds extensive executive powers (sets the agenda, invites/kicks out members).
  • The U.S. President role is separated from the chairmanship; Trump would retain his powerful position even after his presidency ends.

Anthony:
"Trump is the Chairman of the Board of Peace and he's for life chairman...he is the one-man boss of the Board of Peace." (05:17)

3. Legitimacy and International Skepticism

[06:36–07:54]

• Motivations:
  • Some smaller or strategically placed countries seem to be joining in hope of currying favor with Trump/the U.S.
  • Major powers, including Russia and China, are skeptical or noncommittal; the Vatican stressed the primacy of the UN in crisis management.
• Logo Controversy:
  • The Board’s emblem resembles the UN’s but focuses on North America, reinforcing perceptions of U.S. (and Trump’s) dominance.

Sarah:
"It's not at all clear, is it, with Russia, because Trump said they were going to join, but then the Kremlin said, well, no, they weren't quite so sure..." (06:46)

4. The Board’s Current Activities and Practical Impact

[07:54–09:43]

• Executive Committee:

  • Engaged in ongoing negotiations (e.g., discussions with Hamas about disarmament).
  • The Board recently pledged $5 billion for rebuilding Gaza and suggested a possible international police force for the territory.

• Gulf States' Role:

  • Success in Gaza heavily depends on engagement and funding from Gulf nations.
  • Key sticking point: whether Hamas will genuinely disarm and cede control to the Board.

Anthony:
"It's important that the Gulf states, these principalities are involved because they are the ones that will make or break this peace deal." (08:41)

5. Is This an Alternative to the United Nations?

[09:43–11:43]

• Power & Authority:
  • The Board’s influence comes from financial heft and, crucially, American diplomatic/military power.
  • Without broad recognition or participation from major global actors, it's unlikely to supplant the UN.

Anthony:
"The Board of Peace will rise and fall based purely on American power, unless Trump manages to convince some of these other countries...to join in." (10:58)

6. Trump's Take – Direct Comments

[11:43–12:56]

• Trump’s Vision:
  • Sees the Board growing in importance and global scope, working “in conjunction” with the UN, but insists the UN is not up to the task.
  • Trump asserts the Board is comprised of “the greatest leaders in the world” (an exaggeration, per the hosts).

Donald Trump:
"Well, I think it can be. We're going to have all world leaders. They're putting up tremendous amounts of money, and I think it's going to go far beyond Gaza." (12:12)

7. Potential Longevity and Domestic Implications

[14:07–16:12]

• Board's Durability Post-Trump Presidency:
  • Structure allows Trump to remain chair regardless of U.S. political leadership.
  • In a scenario where a Democratic President follows Trump, conflicts between U.S. foreign policy and Board’s activities could arise.

Sarah:
"Once he has left the presidency and somebody else is in the White House, he'll still be the chair of the Board of Peace, but what does he have...What leverage does he have then?" (14:23)

8. Listener Question: What Happens if a Democrat Wins in 2028?

[16:12–18:02]

• Tension Anticipated:
  • A Democratic President might refuse to appoint a U.S. representative or fund the Board, undermining its operations.
  • If a Trump-aligned President (e.g., J.D. Vance) succeeds Trump, Board could persist as an influential foreign policy tool.

Anthony:
"You have the American representative being someone who's hostile to Donald Trump and maybe advancing an entirely different agenda. But Trump has a veto power over what the American President does. It sets up a really strange scenario..." (16:53)

9. Broader 2028 Democratic Presidential Race Context

[19:24–21:41]

• Democrats at Munich Security Conference:
  • Potential 2028 candidates (e.g., Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jeanne Shaheen, Mark Warner, Mark Kelly) are already building international credibility and contrasting themselves with Trump’s approach.
  • Newsom aggressively frames Trump as a temporary setback for global alliances.

Gavin Newsom:
"Donald Trump is temporary. He’ll be gone in three years." (19:49)

• Contrast to Trump’s Foreign Policy:
  • Trump’s administration is characterized by transactional alliances, tough talk on trade, pressure for increased defense spending, and skepticism toward Europe.
  • Democrats seek to reassure allies that American policy could shift again after Trump.

10. Memorable Moments: Foreign Policy Fumbles and Messaging

[22:18–25:19]

• AOC’s Stumble:
  • Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez gives a muddled response to a Taiwan defense question, highlighting the challenges of appearing statesmanlike on the world stage.
• Anthony’s Reflection:
  • Notes that foreign policy missteps didn't hurt Trump in 2016, suggesting that messaging matters less than expected with some U.S. voters.

Sarah:
"These are the dangers of stepping out of your own backyard, aren't they, and tackling global issues." (23:36)

11. Marco Rubio’s Speech – Republican Messaging Abroad

[26:07–29:46]

• Rubio’s Diplomatic Overture:
  • Aims to strike a less combative tone than J.D. Vance’s infamous “transatlantic punch in the nose” in 2025.
  • Balances conciliation with stern rebukes about Europe's handling of migration and economic policy.

Marco Rubio:
"Acting Together, in this way, we will not just help recover a sane foreign policy. It will restore to us a clearer sense of ourselves..." (26:40)

• European Reception:
  • Standing ovation, but underlying doubts remain about the substance versus the rhetoric.

12. The Stakes and What’s Next

[30:44–end]

• International Order at a Crossroads:
  • The creation of the Board of Peace may set up a parallel, U.S.-centric institution with as-yet unproven power to affect global peace and diplomacy.
  • European and global actors must decide whether Trump’s changes are an anomaly or the new normal.
  • The immediate test is the upcoming Board of Peace meeting, which will reveal its actual clout.

Anthony:
"This is something that is being constructed by Donald Trump that will last beyond elections. That could be some sort of a permanent organization that is involved in international affairs..." (30:51)

Notable Quotes & Highlights

• Anthony, on Board's Powers:
  "Essentially, he is the one man boss of this Board of Peace." (05:17)

• Sarah, on Russian and Papal reaction:
  "He can't even necessarily persuade Putin to join, or even the Pope." (06:54)

• Trump, on Board’s Vision:
  "I think it'll be peace all over the world. And we're working in conjunction with the United Nations." (12:18)

• Gavin Newsom, on Trump’s Legacy:
  "Donald Trump is temporary. It'll be gone in three years." (20:19)

• Marco Rubio, on Transatlantic Relations:
  "For us Americans, our home may be in the Western Hemisphere, but we will always be a child of Europe." (27:07)

• Sarah, on Rubio’s speech:
  "I was surprised, actually, that it went down with European leaders as well as it did." (27:24)

Segment Timestamps

• [02:03] Explaining the Board of Peace
• [04:07] Composition, structure, who’s in and who’s out
• [06:36] Major powers' and the Vatican's rejection
• [07:54] What the executive committee is doing now
• [09:43] Power and legitimacy: Can it rival the UN?
• [11:43] Anthony's interview with Trump
• [16:12] Listener question: Democratic presidency implications
• [19:24] Democrats gather at Munich Security Conference
• [22:18] AOC’s foreign policy test
• [26:07] Marco Rubio’s speech and its impact
• [30:44] Summary: Stakes for international order

Conclusion

This episode provides a comprehensive, skeptical look at Trump’s Board of Peace: its origins, structure, motivations, and the deep ambivalence with which it’s viewed in international circles. The podcast situates the Board within broader U.S. political dynamics and the fluid global order, anticipating a tense, consequential period ahead as the Board meets in Washington.
The hosts promise to track developments closely, noting this new institution’s long-term implications for American and international diplomacy.