In the YouTube video titled Yanis Varoufakis: The Imperial "Board of Peace" & End of the United Nations, uploaded in late 2025, economist and former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis delivers a scathing critique of U.S. President Donald Trump's newly established "Board of Peace." The video, which appears to be an interview or monologue excerpt, frames this initiative as a pivotal moment in global geopolitics.
Varoufakis argues that the Board represents a brazen revival of imperialism, effectively dissolving the United Nations (UN) and eroding international law. He ties this to Trump's broader worldview, portraying the president as an "absolute King of the world" who is steering the U.S. toward a colonial-era dominance, with dire consequences for global stability and marginalized groups like the Palestinians.
Varoufakis's analysis centers on a UN Security Council resolution passed on November 17, 2025, which approved the Board with abstentions only from China and Russia. He describes the Board as a private corporation chaired by Trump for life, unaccountable to any democratic body—including the UN, U.S. Congress, or even its own members, who must pay a staggering $1 billion for permanent seats. This structure, he contends, resets the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to pre-1948 terms, treating Gaza as "terra nullius" (uninhabited land ripe for colonization), thereby erasing Palestinian history and rights. Varoufakis draws historical parallels to colonial entities like the British and Dutch East India Companies, which used corporate facades to conquer territories and extract resources. He warns that this model extends beyond the Middle East, potentially targeting regions like Greenland and Canada, as part of a tech-driven imperial expansion backed by figures like Peter Thiel and companies such as Palantir and AWS.
The video emphasizes how the Board undermines the UN by abolishing its longstanding role in the peace process, rendering it an "empty shell" akin to the failed League of Nations. International law is similarly dismissed, with the Board ignoring International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings on occupied territories and International Criminal Court (ICC) indictments against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Varoufakis highlights the hypocrisy of Western nations like Canada, Australia, Britain, and France recognizing Palestine as a state while continuing arms sales to Israel, arguing that the Board halts even these symbolic gestures. Broader themes include the fusion of big tech with the military-industrial complex, using conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine to train AI for global control, and the privatization of public goods under initiatives like the Genius Act for stable-coins. He critiques the "rules-based international order" as a facades for U.S. hegemony, failing to provide stability in places like Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, and Ukraine.
Analysis of the "Board of Peace" as an Imperialist Construct
Varoufakis's portrayal of the Board as an "abomination" resonates with broader criticisms that it privatizes peacekeeping, turning it into a profit-driven enterprise controlled by Trump's inner circle, including political donors and family members. This corporate model echoes colonial imperialism, where entities like the East India Company operated with royal charters but pursued private gains through violence and exploitation. In the context of Gaza, the Board's approach—envisioning the territory as a "Riviera" under U.S.-led redevelopment—effectively endorses ethnic cleansing and denies Palestinians self-determination, reversing decades of UN resolutions advocating for a two-state solution. Critics argue this defies international law, including the Geneva Conventions on occupied territories, and sets a precedent for treating sovereign lands as corporate assets.
The Board's unaccountability amplifies its imperialist bent: as a lifelong chairmanship for Trump, it positions him as an unelected global arbiter, bypassing democratic norms. This aligns with Varoufakis's view of Trump as a "toddler on LSD" whose whims reshape the world, but more seriously, it reflects a shift toward "neo-imperialism" where U.S. policy contradicts its own rhetoric of freedom and sovereignty. The $1 billion entry fee excludes smaller nations, creating an elite club that favors wealthy allies and donors, further entrenching inequality in global governance.
Implications for the UN, International Law, and Palestinian Self-Determination
Varoufakis's prediction that the Board spells the "end of the United Nations" is echoed in analyses warning it undermines the UN's authority by outsourcing its functions to a private entity. The November 2025 resolution effectively annuls prior UN efforts on Palestine, turning the organization into a rubber stamp for U.S. interests. This self-emasculation, as Varoufakis calls it, could lead to the UN's irrelevance, similar to how the League of Nations collapsed amid rising fascism. International law suffers similarly, with the Board reviving outdated doctrines like terra nullius, used historically to justify colonial seizures. Critics highlight its defiance of ICJ and ICC rulings, potentially encouraging other powers to flout norms.
For Palestinians, the Board erases their agency, treating Gaza as a blank slate for redevelopment without input from its inhabitants. This ignores their right to self-determination under UN Charter Article 1, reverting to colonial dynamics where powerful states dictate futures for weaker ones. While a temporary ceasefire has been achieved, ongoing violence suggests the Board fails to address root causes like occupation and inequality. Varoufakis notes the hypocrisy: recognitions of Palestine by Western nations ring hollow without actions like arms embargoes.
Trump's Actions in the U.S. and Abroad: A Path to Disaster?
Trump's second term (2025 onward) has seen aggressive domestic and foreign policies that align with Varoufakis's warnings of imperial overreach. Domestically, Trump has issued over 230 executive orders, focusing on tariffs, immigration, and deregulation. "Liberation Day" tariffs aimed at a manufacturing boom have eased inflation but risked supply chain disruptions. Immigration enforcement has driven border crossings to record lows through mass deportations and expanded travel bans. Downsizing the federal workforce and promoting privatization (e.g., via the Genius Act) benefit Wall Street and big tech, merging corporate power with government. These moves consolidate power but exacerbate divisions, with critics warning of authoritarianism and economic inequality.
Internationally, Trump's "pragmatic" foreign policy—outlined in the 2025 National Security Strategy—emphasizes muscular unilateralism. He has hosted over 40 foreign leaders, imposed tariffs under authorities like Section 301, and threatened strikes on Iran amid protests. The Board of Peace exemplifies this, aiming to reshape the Middle East but snubbed by key allies. Efforts to undermine the EU and coexist with China while targeting Canada reflect a strategy to extend U.S. hegemony amid China's rise.
These actions could meet a disastrous end for several reasons. First, the Board's lack of enforcement mechanisms dooms it to failure, as agreements without teeth (like UN resolutions) invite violations. Short-term ceasefires in Gaza may collapse, reigniting conflict and drawing in regional powers. Second, alienating allies through tariffs and neo-imperial moves erodes U.S. soft power, potentially isolating America as China and Russia fill voids. Third, domestic polarization—fuelled by privatization and workforce cuts—could spark unrest, weakening Trump's ability to project strength abroad. Economically, tariffs risk global recession, while corporate imperialism invites backlash from anti-colonial movements. Historically, such overreach (e.g., British Empire's corporate colonialism) led to revolts and decline. Varoufakis's warning of a "catastrophic" outcome seems prescient: Trump's king-like ambitions may accelerate multipolarity, hastening U.S. relative decline rather than dominance.
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