Former US President Donald Trump has launched a "Peace Council" as a purported alternative to the United Nations, holding its inaugural meeting in Washington on February 19, 2026. Trump, who founded the council at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026, aims to address global conflicts, with the situation in Gaza expected to be a primary focus. Germany, under Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), has opted for an observer role, sending Christian Buck, head of the Middle East department at the Foreign Office, to the event. This decision stems from constitutional concerns regarding Trump's extensive veto power and the concentration of authority within the council, which requires a billion-dollar fee for indefinite membership. While Trump seeks $5 billion for Gaza's reconstruction, the UN estimates the cost at $70 billion. Critics, including German Green and SPD politicians, view the council as a "dubious construct" and a parallel structure to established international bodies.