Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced on Saturday that he will travel to Washington, D.C., in two weeks to attend the inaugural meeting of President Donald Trump‘s “Board of Peace.” Initially established to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, the board’s mandate appears to extend beyond the Palestinian territories, aiming to challenge the authority of the United Nations.
Orbán, a close ally of Trump within the European Union, revealed his plans during a campaign event in Szombathely. “Two weeks from now we will meet again in Washington, because the Board of Peace, the peace body, will have an inaugural meeting,” he stated. The board’s charter requires permanent members to contribute $1 billion for membership, raising concerns that it may operate as a “pay to play” alternative to the UN Security Council.
The U.N. approved the concept of the Board of Peace in November, aligning it with the Trump administration’s 20-point peace plan focused specifically on stabilizing Gaza. Since its inception, the board’s scope seems to have broadened, with Trump suggesting last month that it could potentially replace the UN as the primary global governing body.
As of January 21, more than 50 countries were invited to participate in the board. The White House has not provided clear criteria for the selection of these nations, and while a list of participants was announced, attendance at the inaugural meeting remains uncertain for many.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is set to lead the board, described the initiative as a work in progress, indicating that the Trump administration anticipates an increase in membership over time.
Orbán’s attendance comes at a critical juncture for his political career, as he faces a general election scheduled for April 12. Recent independent polls indicate that the opposition, led by Peter Magyar, a former government insider turned critic, holds an advantage amid rising public discontent over economic stagnation and declining public services.
The developments surrounding the Board of Peace reflect a shift in global diplomatic dynamics, with implications for international relations and the role of traditional institutions like the United Nations. As the meeting approaches, the global community will be closely watching how this new initiative unfolds and its potential impact on peace efforts in the region.
