Overview
- Invitations went to 58 countries, and the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Argentina and Belarus have accepted, while others, including Russia, say they are still assessing the proposal.
- France declined to join, citing concerns that the council would exceed a Gaza-focused mandate and encroach on the United Nations’ role.
- A draft statute obtained by reporters gives the president of the body the power to select members, set meetings and break ties, and it offers permanent seats to states contributing over $1 billion in the first year, with other members serving three-year terms.
- Trump plans to outline the initiative Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos after saying the council "could" replace the UN, even as he also said the UN should continue.
- The White House named an executive board that includes U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jared Kushner, Tony Blair, Ajay Banga, Marc Rowan and Steve Witkoff, and announced a separate Gaza executive board led day-to-day by Nickolay Mladenov alongside regional and international figures.