Commentary by Stephen Macaulay
The United Nations was established in 1945 after the end of World War II. A primary purpose was to maintain international peace and security by establishing good relations between countries.
There were 51 original member countries:
- Republic of China (now People's Republic of China)
- France
- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (now Russian Federation)
- United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
- United States of America
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic (now Belarus)
- Chile
- Cuba
- Czechoslovakia (now Czechia and Slovakia)
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- Egypt
- El Salvador
- Haiti
- Iran
- Lebanon
- Luxembourg
- New Zealand
- Nicaragua
- Paraguay
- Philippine Commonwealth (now Philippines)
- Poland
- Saudi Arabia
- Syrian Arab Republic
- Turkey (now Türkiye)
- Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (now Ukraine)
- Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia)
- Australia
- Belgium
- Bolivia (now Plurinational State of Bolivia)
- Canada
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Ecuador
- Ethiopia
- Greece
- Guatemala
- Honduras
- India
- Iraq
- Liberia
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Panama
- Peru
- Union of South Africa (now South Africa)
- Uruguay
- Venezuela (now Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
As you can see, a solid representation when it started.
The original UN Charter was signed in San Francisco. The UN Building was constructed in New York City for a number of reasons, such as the US homeland not having been bombed as had potential cities in Europe.
What’s more, and this is a case where some rich individuals, even with a dubious reputation*, did something good without demanding their name being associated with it: John D. Rockefeller, Jr., donated $8.5 million in 1946 to buy land on the East River, where the UN complex was built.
Now the US was, back then, truly the leading country in the world. And while America was proud, it wasn’t arrogant. It saw its mission in the world of one where it would help reconstruct what had been destroyed, where it would help floundered economies get back on their feet.
It was a noble mission, one that resulted in a tremendous amount of respect for the US around the world, one that all Americans could be proud of — and benefit from. Countries around the world became our trading partners. Goods that they could provide more efficiently than could be attained in the US were imported so American citizens could take advantage of these better prices. At the same time, because foreign countries began to have economic gains, US companies and farmers could export product around the world.
This was not a zero-sum game.
This was win-win.
It is not that the UN solved all crises. It is not that all UN members are, in the context of American interests, beneficial.
But while there have been wars since its founding in 1945, there has not been a world war.
Because the US was (and is) the world’s leading economy, it pays the greatest amount of “dues” to keep the UN operating. There is a formula to calculate how much a country pays, predicated on things like the country’s Gross National Income (which is the Gross Dometic Product (GDP) plus net income earned from abroad), population, and external debt.
For the 2026 UN budget the US is paying the maximum, 22%, or some $759 million.
While that was once seen as being something that was not only good, but something that can help the aforementioned world wars not breaking out, which can cost a whole lot more than that: The price of 3,560 Hellfire II missiles is about $759 million.
To put that price into context: during Operation Desert Storm (1991) it is estimated that as many as 4,000 missiles were launched. (They weren’t as sophisticated as the Hellfire II and so presumably less expensive.)
Not being at all satisfied with the UN, Donald Trump has established the “Board of Peace” and installed himself as the chairman. And he is the chairman for as long as he wants to be chairman.
And as chairman he decides whether a resolution or decision made by the board stands.
Trump decides.
Which probably explains this:
According to The Hill Trump announced on his social media platform: “I can say with certainty that it is the Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place.”
Of course. It is the “Greatest” because he gets to decide what the board does.
So, who’s in (as of January 23, 2026)?
The following states have accepted Donald Trump's intention to join the Board of Peace:
- Albania
- Argentina
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Bahrain
- Belarus
- Bulgaria
- Egypt
- Hungary
- Indonesia
- Israel
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kosovo
- Kuwait
- Mongolia
- Morocco
- Pakistan
- Paraguay
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United States
- Uzbekistan
- Vietnam
With all due respect to these countries, look at that original UN list and compare it to this.
While it is not clear which countries are going to pay the $1 billion that Trump is charging for permanent membership, here’s something to take into account:
As previously mentioned, there is an equation to determine the amount of membership dues that a country must pay annually to be part of the United Nations. This is not a calculation like the one used by Trump to determine tariffs charged to countries on Liberation Day, but some actual economic assessment of reality.
The median — that is, the middle number, with half being less and half being more — amount of money that a country pays each year to be a UN member (again, realize this is taking into account the economic conditions that exist) is $5 million.
So in order to join the Board of Peace, it the $1 billion is annualized that’s $50 million per year over 20 years.
Looked at another way, if a country is paying $1 billion to be a member of the Board of Peace but had been paying $5 million to be a UN member, that is equivalent to paying $5 million for 200 years.
Of course, since Trump is the chairman, it costs the US $0.
The words “international grift” come to mind.