Tony Blair has raised concerns about a $1 billion payment clause in President Trump’s proposed "Board of Peace" after accepting a role on its executive panel. A Bloomberg-obtained draft charter says members would serve three years unless they pay $1,000,000,000 within the first year, a clause that could buy permanent status. The draft also gives the chair broad powers over invitations, funds and successor appointments. Blair’s spokesperson said he is not involved in membership decisions; Mark Carney agreed in principle to join but not to the payment requirement.
Tony Blair Questions $1 Billion 'Board of Peace' Fee After Accepting Role on Trump’s Executive Panel
Former British prime minister Tony Blair accepted a position on President Donald Trump’s proposed "Board of Peace" executive panel but has raised objections to a draft provision that would require countries to pay $1 billion to secure permanent membership, Bloomberg reports.
Trump said last week he would chair the founding Executive Board, which he said would include Blair alongside figures such as Senator Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff. According to the announcement, each board member would "oversee a defined portfolio critical to Gaza’s stabilization and long-term success."
Bloomberg obtained a draft of the organization’s charter that states member states would serve three years by default unless they "contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force." That clause would effectively allow nations to buy permanent status.
The draft also says the chair would have final authority over which countries are invited, control of the organization’s funds, and the power to appoint his successor, the report says. The Kremlin said on Monday that Russian President Vladimir Putin received an invitation to join the council.
A spokesperson for Mr. Blair told Bloomberg that he "isn’t involved in determining the board’s membership" and would not publicly endorse the plan. The spokesperson added that questions about the $1 billion fee should be directed to the Trump administration.
Mark Carney — the former governor of the Bank of England and the Bank of Canada — said he had agreed in principle to join the board but not to the payment requirement. "With respect to the specifics of the Board of Peace, we haven’t gone through all the details of the structure, how it’s going to work, what financing is for, et cetera. And so we will work through those in the coming days," Carney said.
Reaction and Concerns
Critics worry the initiative could be designed to rival or supplant the United Nations; Mr. Trump has frequently criticized the U.N. as "not even coming close to living up to [its] potential." Supporters argue the board could speed reconstruction and stabilization in Gaza, but the draft’s financing and governance terms have raised questions about transparency, accountability and geopolitical balance.
Bloomberg reviewed the draft charter and reported on statements from involved parties. Other outlets have since covered the draft and reactions from potential members.
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