In a bold move to reshape global diplomacy, US President Donald Trump has launched the Board of Peace, drawing commitments from 25 countries out of 60 invited. This initiative comes amid escalating tensions from the Russia-Ukraine war, Gaza ceasefire talks, Venezuela’s crisis, and Greenland disputes. Trump’s vision aims to foster worldwide stability through collective action.
Israeli media reports confirm that nations like Israel, Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UAE, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Egypt, Vietnam, and Mongolia have signed on. Eight Islamic countries are among the participants, signaling a potential shift in Middle East dynamics.
Notably, India received an invitation linked to the second phase of the Israel-Hamas Gaza ceasefire but has yet to respond. India’s Foreign Ministry stated they are reviewing the proposal carefully. Major powers such as France, Britain, China, Germany, Sweden, and Norway skipped the signing ceremony.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin offered a counter-proposal, pledging $1 billion from frozen Russian assets in the West to fund a council addressing Palestinian issues and Gaza’s humanitarian crisis, provided it prioritizes immediate relief. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, is set to meet Trump in Davos, arriving to discuss ongoing conflicts.
Membership in the Board lasts three years, with permanent status reportedly requiring a $1 billion contribution. Countries like Germany, Italy, Paraguay, Russia, Slovenia, Turkey, and Ukraine have made no firm commitments. This selective participation underscores deep divisions in international responses to Trump’s peace overture, raising questions about its long-term viability in a fractured world order.