President Donald Trump holds the charter during a signing ceremony on his Board of Peace initiative at the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
President Donald Trump on Thursday officially launched his new Board of Peace, a group he says will help oversee a ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. Trump claimed that many countries want to join the board, but it is still unclear how many world leaders will actually take part.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said the Board of Peace could one day become as important as the United Nations. However, several close U.S. allies have already chosen not to join.
The idea for the board was first introduced in Trump’s 20-point Gaza ceasefire plan, which was later endorsed by the U.N. Security Council. The board was originally meant to be a small group of leaders to monitor the ceasefire, with Trump serving as chairman. Over time, it grew into a much larger and more ambitious project, which caused concern among some countries.
Norway and Sweden said they would not participate. France declined, saying it was worried the board could try to replace the United Nations. Canada said it had not yet decided.
During the forum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney spoke critically about what he called a breakdown in the global rules-based system. After leaving Davos, Trump responded sharply on social media, saying the Board of Peace was withdrawing its invitation to Canada and calling the board “the most prestigious group of leaders ever assembled.”
It is still not clear how many countries have agreed to join. In Davos, Trump told reporters he expected more than 50 countries to take part. At the official launch, representatives from 19 countries attended, including Azerbaijan, Paraguay, and Hungary. Trump told them, “You’re the most powerful people in the world.”
Later, while flying back to Washington, Trump said invitations had only been sent two days earlier and that nearly 30 leaders had already responded. He added that some leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish President Karol Nawrocki, want to join but need approval from their parliaments first.
The official rules, or charter, of the Board of Peace have not yet been released. When asked whether he could remain chairman even after leaving office, Trump said the charter would allow him to stay on if he wished, possibly for life, though he said he was unsure he would want that.
Many questions remain about how the board will operate. Trump has previously suggested it could replace some United Nations functions, but on Thursday he said the two organizations would work together. He also said the board’s work could expand beyond Gaza if it succeeds there.
At the event, Ali Shaath, head of a future technocratic government for Gaza, announced that the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt would reopen in both directions next week. Israel did not confirm this, saying only that it would consider the issue next week. The Gaza side of the crossing is currently under Israeli military control.
An Arab diplomat based in Europe said Middle Eastern countries coordinated their response to Trump’s invitation and agreed only to support the Gaza ceasefire plan as approved by the U.N. Security Council. Speaking anonymously, the diplomat said participation so far is only preliminary and that parts of the U.S. charter conflict with the United Nations’ mission. The diplomat added that other major global powers are unlikely to support the board in its current form.
Some countries also raised concerns about Trump inviting Russian President Vladimir Putin and other authoritarian leaders. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said there were serious concerns about Putin joining a peace group while Russia continues its war in Ukraine.
Putin said Russia is still consulting with its allies before deciding whether to join. On Thursday, he hosted Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Moscow. The Kremlin said Putin planned to discuss a proposal to donate $1 billion to the Board of Peace for humanitarian aid, using Russian assets previously blocked by the United States. Trump said he would welcome the donation if it came from Russian funds.
While in Davos, Trump also met privately for about an hour with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump said the meeting was good but expressed frustration that peace efforts have not yet succeeded. He said both Zelenskyy and Putin now appear willing to make a deal, but added that negotiations remain difficult.
Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner traveled to Moscow for talks with Putin. Zelenskyy later said that the United States, Ukraine, and Russia would hold two days of talks in the United Arab Emirates starting Friday.
Trump’s push for peace comes amid tensions with Iran. Earlier this month, he threatened military action after Iran violently cracked down on protests, killing thousands. Trump later said he received assurances that Iran would not carry out planned mass executions and said no new strikes would happen for now.
However, Trump said the U.S. is moving naval ships closer to Iran as a precaution. He also said he plans to impose 25% tariffs on countries that do business with Iran, though the White House has not yet released details of the plan. https://dmtn1.com/trump-launches-board-of-peace-but-participation-by-world-leaders-remains-unclear/
