Ammon News - U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday launched his Board of Peace, originally intended to help end the Gaza war but which he now sees having a wider role that Europe and some others fear will rival or undermine the United Nations.

Trump appeared to touch on those concerns in his opening remarks at a signing ceremony for the board, saying the new board would work with the U.N. as he listed other major diplomatic issues around the region and worldwide.

"Well, this is a very exciting day, long in the making, and many countries have just received their notice, and everybody wants to be a part of it, and we'll work with many others, including the United Nations," he said.

Trump, who will chair the board, has invited dozens of other world leaders to join it and sees the grouping addressing other global challenges beyond the stuttering Gaza truce, though he does not intend it to replace the United Nations, he has said.

Some traditional U.S. allies have balked at joining the board, which Trump says permanent members must help fund with a payment of $1 billion each, either responding cautiously or declining the invitation.

Representatives from countries introduced as founder members were present in the room as Trump spoke, but Reuters could not immediately see any representatives from governments of other top global powers or from Israel or the Palestinian Authority.