No. of Recommendations: 6
Jeff Tiedrich notes that absent from that list are any of our traditional allies.
Hungary has been a member of NATO since 1999. Bulgaria has been a member of NATO since 2004.
I wonder how prevalent a culture of corruption is in each of those countries? They may recognize the "Board" as a bribe laundering scheme, and be OK with that, because that is how their own country runs?
From the net sifter:
Based on information available as of January 2026, Donald Trump established a "Board of Peace" (BoP) in early 2026, initially to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, with roughly 20-26 countries initially joining
.
The member countries represent a diverse mix of regimes, but generally do not include many of the world's highest-ranked democracies for transparency. The member nations tend to be either close personal allies of Trump, nations that have recently reached U.S.-brokered agreements, or states with high levels of perceived corruption (as measured by the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) in 2024–2025)
Member Country Corruption Profile (2024-2025 Data)
The following is a list of countries reported as joining the Board of Peace, along with their corruption context (based on Transparency International's CPI trends):
High Corruption / Low Transparency (Low CPI Scores):
Belarus (19/100): Ranked among the most corrupt nations; authoritarian government.
Azerbaijan (23/100): Frequently ranked among the most corrupt.
Paraguay (25/100): Consistently ranked low on the CPI.
Uzbekistan (26/100): High levels of corruption reported.
Pakistan (29/100): Faces significant public sector corruption.
Egypt (35/100): Known for significant public sector corruption.
Vietnam (36/100): High levels of corruption.
Kazakhstan (39/100): High levels of corruption.
Moderate Corruption / Transitional:
Indonesia (34/100): High corruption in public/private sectors.
Turkey (34/100): High corruption, with a nationalist leader.
Morocco (38/100): Moderate to high corruption.
Hungary (42/100): Known for high levels of corruption within the EU, with a leader close to Trump.
Argentina (45/100): Struggling with corruption, but recently joined.
Armenia (47/100): Moderate levels of corruption.
Moderate to Low Corruption / Specific Context:
Jordan (45/100): Moderate corruption.
Saudi Arabia (53/100): Significant wealth but with high bribery risks.
Qatar (58/100): Moderate corruption.
United Arab Emirates (68/100): Moderate, lower compared to regional peers.
Israel (60s/100): High-level political ties with Trump; moderate corruption.
United States (65/100): Dropped to its lowest score ever in early 2025.
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How about the countries that have been invited, but not joined?
Based on reports from January 2026, several countries declined or expressed reluctance to join Donald Trump’s "Board of Peace," an initiative intended to oversee Gaza ceasefire plans and, more broadly, to act as a mediator in international conflicts, often viewed as a competitor to the United Nations
.
The countries that have declined or were noted as unlikely to join often hold high rankings on international anti-corruption indices, specifically the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), generally indicating lower levels of public sector corruption compared to the countries that accepted (such as Russia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Belarus)
Countries That Declined or Delayed Joining (Lower Corruption/High Rule of Law)
France: Confirmed they would not join, with officials expressing concerns that the board could undermine the United Nations. France consistently ranks as a stable, rule-of-law-based democracy with relatively lower perceived corruption.
Norway: Declined, citing that the proposal requires further dialogue and raises questions. Norway frequently ranks in the top 10 least corrupt nations globally.
Sweden: Declined, with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stating they would not sign up as the text currently stands. Sweden is also among the top 10 least corrupt nations.
Denmark: Confirmed they will not join. Denmark consistently ranks 1st or in the top 3 least corrupt nations in the world.
Slovenia: Declined, with PM Robert Golob stating the body “dangerously interferes with the broader international order”
Canada: Initially agreed "in principle," but after refusing to pay a $1 billion fee for a permanent seat and expressing policy differences, the invitation was withdrawn by Trump. Canada has generally low levels of corruption, although it was not among the top 10 least corrupt.
Spain: Declined, citing a commitment to international law and the UN system
Correlation with Corruption Metrics:
The nations declining the invitation generally represent established democracies with high transparency and rule-of-law standards. Conversely, many of the nations that accepted the invitation—such as Russia, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, and Belarus—are characterized in global indices as having significantly higher levels of perceived corruption, often with less independent judicial oversight.
Key Takeaways:
Declining Countries: Typically in the top 25-30% of the least corrupt nations (e.g., Scandinavian nations).
Accepting Countries: Include many nations ranked in the middle or bottom half of the corruption index.
Primary Stated Reason for Declining: The board is viewed as a threat to the established United Nations framework and international law, rather than just a, "peace-building" tool
So, appears Trumo's "Board" is a motley collection of the most corrupt nations.
Steve
