IRIA News

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U.S. President Donald Trump formally launched his “Board of Peace” on January 22, 2026, at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The ambitious and controversial initiative aims to be a platform for global conflict resolution.

Over two days of intensive diplomacy surrounding the World Economic Forum in Davos, the initiative drew formal acceptance from key Middle Eastern and Asian states, cautious or negative reactions from major global powers, and raised questions about the future role of the United Nations.

At the same time, Gaza ceasefire negotiations entered a critical phase, Ukraine diplomacy intensified with new trilateral talks announced, and Trump addressed separate disputes involving Greenland, NATO, and transatlantic trade.

Together, these developments underscored how United States President Donald Trump’s organization, the Board of Peace, is being introduced amid an already crowded and volatile global diplomatic agenda in Switzerland.

President Donald J. Trump signs and ratifies the Board of Peace charter, officially making the Board of Peace an international organization.

THE PEACE PRESIDENT 🕊️🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/J7v8d0S8m7

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 22, 2026

Middle Eastern and Asian States Join Board of Peace

Saudi Arabia, UAE, Turkiye, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Qatar are among the several countries that accepted invitations to join Trump’s Board of Peace. Each country would sign accession documents in accordance with its own legal procedures.

The early list of participants highlights strong buy-in from Middle Eastern powers directly affected by the Gaza conflict, as well as major Muslim-majority and emerging economies in Asia. Diplomats noted that while dozens of world leaders have been invited, actual participation in the board has so far skewed toward regional actors rather than established global powers or the U.S.’s traditional Western allies.

Trump has said permanent members of the board would be required to contribute $1 billion each to fund its operations. At the signing ceremony, there were no immediately visible representatives from the governments of top global powers, nor from Israel or the Palestinian Authority, although Israel later confirmed its intention to join.

Trump’s Vision for Board of Peace

Trump formally launched the Board of Peace on Thursday, presenting it as a mechanism to solidify Gaza’s ceasefire and eventually address other international conflicts. He said the board would operate in conjunction with the United Nations, despite longstanding tensions between his administration and multilateral institutions.

“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do. And we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,” Trump said. He added that the UN had “great potential” that had not been fully utilized.

The board’s creation has been endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan. UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez said UN engagement with the board would be limited strictly to that context, signaling caution within the organization about the scope of the new body.

Trump, who will chair the board, said he wanted it to go beyond Gaza, a prospect that has stirred concerns among diplomats that it could undermine the UN’s central role in global diplomacy and conflict resolution.

Global Powers Remain Cautious

No other permanent member of the UN Security Council besides the United States has committed to joining the Board of Peace so far. France has declined to participate, while Britain said it was not joining “at present.” China has not yet publicly stated whether it will take part.

Russia said it was studying the proposal after Trump suggested Moscow would join. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia was willing to contribute $1 billion from frozen U.S. assets “to support the Palestinian people,” according to state media, though no formal commitment has been announced.

Diplomats say the absence of major powers reflects concerns that the board could dilute existing diplomatic frameworks or be used to advance U.S. priorities outside established multilateral processes.

Key Figures Involved

In addition to Trump, board members include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, senior Gaza negotiators Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Rubio said the board’s immediate focus would be on ensuring that the Gaza peace plan is implemented, while also serving as a model for resolving conflicts elsewhere. Kushner said the board would spend the next 100 days focused on implementation, humanitarian aid, and creating conditions for longer-term stability.

“There’s tremendous potential with the United Nations, and I think the combination of the Board of Peace with the kind of people we have here could be something very, very unique for the world,” Trump said, despite his history of criticizing multilateral institutions.

Gaza Ceasefire Remains Fragile

The Gaza ceasefire, agreed in October 2025, has faltered repeatedly amid mutual accusations by Israel and Hamas. Several Israeli soldiers and hundreds of Palestinians have been killed during intermittent flare-ups since the agreement came into force.

Kushner said the next phase of the ceasefire would focus on reconstruction funding for Gaza, which lies largely in ruins, and the disarmament of Hamas, one of the most contentious unresolved issues. “If Hamas doesn’t demilitarize, that would be what holds this plan back,” he said.

Palestinian technocratic committee leader Ali Shaath said the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, Gaza’s main gateway, would reopen next week, signaling progress on one of the ceasefire’s stalled elements.

Israel has accused Hamas of delaying the return of the final body of a dead hostage, while Hamas has accused Israel of continuing to restrict aid into Gaza despite a severe humanitarian crisis. Both sides reject the other’s claims.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation to join the board, while Palestinian factions have endorsed Trump’s plan and backed the creation of a transitional Palestinian committee to administer Gaza under board oversight.

Ukraine Diplomacy in Davos

Alongside developments on the Board of Peace, Trump held talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Davos. Both sides described the meeting as productive, with Zelenskyy requesting additional air defense missiles.

Хороша зустріч із Президентом Трампом, продуктивна й змістовна. Обговорили роботу команд, і фактично кожен день – зустрічі або спілкування. Документи ще більш підготовлені. Говорили сьогодні й про ППО для України – попередня зустріч із Президентом Трампом допомогла захисту неба.… pic.twitter.com/HDLxHv5UU7

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 22, 2026

Trump said negotiations involving the United States, Russia, and Ukraine would continue, announcing that Kyiv, Moscow, and Washington would hold their first trilateral talks in the United Arab Emirates. Zelenskyy later said documents were being prepared and that discussions on air defense had advanced.

U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that Ukraine’s possible accession to the Board of Peace was not discussed during his meeting with Zelenskyy in Switzerland.

Greenland Dispute

While in Davos, Trump dropped his threat to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his proposal to take control of Greenland and ruled out the use of force to seize the territory. He said a “framework” had been agreed with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, focusing on Arctic security.

European leaders welcomed the de-escalation but reiterated that sovereignty over Greenland was non-negotiable. Analysts said the episode had already caused lasting damage to transatlantic trust, regardless of the apparent breakthrough.

While the Board of Peace has secured early backing from several influential regional players, its long-term credibility remains uncertain. Critics point to the lack of participation by major global powers, concerns over funding requirements, and ambiguity about how the board will interact with existing international institutions.

Supporters argue that the initiative reflects frustration with stalled diplomatic mechanisms and could provide momentum where traditional processes have failed.

As Gaza negotiations, Ukraine diplomacy, and broader geopolitical tensions continue to evolve, the coming weeks will test whether Trump’s Board of Peace can move beyond symbolism and become a durable actor in global conflict resolution.