Trump's "Peace Commission" May Impact the UN System
According to CNN, on January 20 local time, US President Trump stated at a White House press conference that the newly announced "Peace Commission" he established "might" replace the United Nations, while also noting that the UN has "great potential" and should continue to exist. The Trump administration had previously officially launched the "Peace Commission" plan, inviting multiple countries to join for a "permanent membership" fee of $1 billion. The commission aims to first address the Gaza issue before extending to other international conflicts. Its structural design and operational logic directly challenge the international order led by the United Nations, raising widespread global concerns about the future of the multilateral system.
The "Peace Commission" established by the Trump administration highlights distinct US-dominated characteristics.
The commission's stated purpose is to "promote stability, restore legitimate governance, and achieve lasting peace," claiming to replace "traditional institutions that have failed too many times"—namely the UN—with "practical judgment and common-sense solutions." In terms of power structure, the US holds near-absolute dominance. Trump himself serves as the inaugural chairman. Although decisions are made by a simple majority vote, they require the chairman's approval. The chairman has the final say in the event of a tie vote, and decisions regarding the appointment or removal of members can only be overturned by a two-thirds majority. Furthermore, among the seven members of the executive committee, US core figures such as Secretary of State Rubio and Trump's son-in-law Kushner hold dominant positions, with only a few external figures like former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair included.
Trump's statement that the "Peace Commission might replace the United Nations" is not merely a simple political slogan but a systematic challenge to the existing international order.
First, it undermines the authority and legitimacy of the United Nations. As the most universal international organization established after World War II, the UN's legitimacy stems from the collective recognition of the vast majority of the world's countries, and its mediation mechanisms are based on the clear mandate of the UN Charter. While the "Peace Commission" has received temporary authorization from the UN Security Council regarding post-war governance in Gaza, it lacks clear legal basis outside the Middle East. Yet, it attempts to assume global conflict mediation functions. The emergence of this "parallel mechanism" will directly divert mediation resources from the UN and weaken its core authority. Second, it fragments the international mediation system. Currently, multiple complex disputes exist globally, such as the conflicts in Sudan and Russia-Ukraine. The UN plays a positive role in coordinating multilateral actions and building international consensus. Trump's "Peace Commission" is essentially a "US-dominated small circle," and this approach will directly undermine mediation standards. Third, it may initiate a model of "money-dominated politics." The fact that paying $1 billion grants a "permanent seat" means money directly determines international mediation influence. This contradicts the UN's principle of "one country, one vote" and equality. It may lead more countries to emulate "exchanging funds for power," turning international organizations into tools for great power interest exchange.
The international community's reaction to this move by the Trump administration has been mixed.
Some countries have adopted a cautious wait-and-see attitude. For instance, Saudi Arabia stated it is "reviewing according to internal procedures"; Egypt and Turkey have not yet commented; Canada has agreed "in principle" but has clear reservations about its operational methods. There is also significant criticism. For example, former US State Department diplomat Aaron David Miller bluntly stated the concept of the "Peace Commission" is "divorced from reality"; Palestinian scholar Khaled Elgindy pointed out its charter "never mentions the rights and interests of the Palestinian people."
The "Peace Commission" established by Trump may pull international affairs back onto the old track of "great power dominance and interest supremacy." While the UN has issues such as inefficiency, reforming and improving its mechanisms would better serve global common interests. In today's complex and ever-changing global landscape, genuine peace cannot be achieved through "small circle dominance" nor bought with "financial transactions." Only by jointly upholding the core status of the United Nations and adhering to the fundamental principles of sovereign equality, fairness, justice, and multilateral consultation can a truly lasting international peace order be built.
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