European Nations Reject Donald Trump's Board of Peace Initiative

President Donald Trump established the Board of Peace during a signing ceremony in Davos, Switzerland, on January 22, 2026. Originally proposed as a small group to oversee a Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction, the body evolved into a broader entity with Trump serving as chairman for life. The U.S. administration requested membership fees of up to $1 billion for permanent seats, a requirement that triggered constitutional objections in Italy.

A majority of European nations declined to join the initiative, citing concerns that its broad mandate to resolve global conflicts would dangerously undermine the United Nations Charter. Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, and Spain officially rejected the proposal, while the United Kingdom and Ireland cited the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin as a primary reason for their refusal. European Council President Antonio Costa further criticized the organization's governance as undemocratic. Among European leaders, only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán attended the signing event.

Despite the widespread European boycott, the United States claims that 35 of the 60 invited nations have committed to participate. Other founding members and executive committee figures include U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and representatives from Türkiye, Qatar, Egypt, and the UAE. The initiative also coincided with diplomatic tensions, including Trump's threats to impose tariffs on European nations unless they agreed to the U.S. acquisition of Greenland.