Trump Establishes Board of Peace Amid Mixed International Reactions

President Donald Trump signed the founding charter of the Board of Peace during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026. The initiative aims to oversee postwar stabilization in Gaza and potentially other conflict zones. Trump stated, "This isn't the United States — this is for the world."

The Board of Peace is designed to coordinate international assistance, support security arrangements, and guide Gaza's post-conflict administration. While initially focused on Gaza, the board's mandate may expand globally. The concept has been endorsed in principle by a United Nations Security Council resolution supporting a transitional framework for Gaza, though the board itself would operate outside formal U.N. structures.

Several countries, including Azerbaijan, Argentina, Uzbekistan, and Hungary, have expressed support for the board's goals. Israel is among the countries that have signed on. However, some European governments have raised concerns about the board's legitimacy and its relationship to existing multilateral institutions. French President Emmanuel Macron was particularly critical, expressing apprehension that the initiative could undermine the United Nations. Alongside leaders from the U.K., Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands, Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob stated that his country would not join the board, emphasizing that peace initiatives should remain rooted in established global frameworks.

The U.K.'s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper indicated that Britain was not prepared to support the initiative at this stage, partly due to the potential participation of Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said his country is still considering whether to commit.

Gaza remains highly unstable despite a ceasefire that has largely halted large-scale fighting. The territory's reconstruction needs are extensive, governance arrangements remain unclear, and humanitarian conditions are severe. These factors have placed significant pressure on international actors to move beyond emergency relief toward longer-term solutions.