Peace board price tagListen to this articleThailand has received an invitation from US President Donald Trump to join his newly proposed "Board of Peace", an organisation ostensibly aimed at overseeing the reconstruction and peace process in Gaza following more than two years of devastating conflict. A seat at this table carries a staggering price tag of US$1 billion (31 billion baht), a sum that demands far more than diplomatic curiosity. The draft charter speaks of a "bold new approach" to global conflicts, suggesting Gaza is merely a pilot project for a new geopolitical platform. Beyond the fiscal burden, full engagement risks branding Thailand as a partisan actor in an increasingly multipolar world. True leadership is not found in buying a seat at an elite table; it is found in principled multilateralism.

Source: Bangkok Post January 21, 2026 05:49 UTC