President Donald Trump on Thursday formally launched his proposed Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum, unveiling an international initiative he said would begin by reinforcing the ceasefire in Gaza but could later take on a far broader global role — raising unease among some allies about its scope and its relationship with the United Nations.
Speaking at a signing ceremony attended by presidents, prime ministers and senior diplomats from more than a dozen countries, Trump said the board would work “in conjunction with the United Nations,” even as he repeated criticism of the world body’s effectiveness.
“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do,” Trump said. “And we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations.” He added that the U.N. had “tremendous potential” but had “not been fully utilized.”
The Board of Peace was originally presented as a mechanism to oversee the Gaza ceasefire, but Trump has since expanded its mission, saying it could mediate other international conflicts. He reaffirmed Thursday that Gaza would remain the initial focus, while signaling ambitions well beyond it.
“I think we can spread out to other things as we succeed with Gaza,” Trump said. “We’re going to be very successful in Gaza.”
The White House described the Davos event as a charter launch, though no draft charter has been made public and a full membership list has not yet been released. Trump and leaders from participating countries signed documents during the ceremony.
About 35 countries have committed to join, according to U.S. officials. Countries represented at the launch included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Belarus, Bahrain and Morocco, as well as Argentina, Indonesia, Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Paraguay. Israel and Hungary have also said they will join.
The gathering was notably light on major Western allies. No other permanent member of the U.N. Security Council has formally committed to the board. France has declined to participate, Britain said it is not joining for now, and China has not announced a decision. Russia said it is still reviewing the proposal, after Trump said it had agreed to take part.
Trump has said permanent members would be required to contribute $1 billion each to help fund the board.
The board’s creation was endorsed by a U.N. Security Council resolution tied to Trump’s Gaza peace plan. U.N. spokesperson Rolando Gómez said Thursday that any U.N. engagement with the board would be limited to that context.
Still, Trump’s repeated suggestions that the Board of Peace could rival or even replace aspects of the United Nations have fueled concern among diplomats, particularly in Europe. British officials and others have cited unease over the possible inclusion of Russia and other authoritarian governments in a body meant to resolve international conflicts.
Asked about those concerns, Trump said he wants all influential leaders involved. “I have some controversial people,” he said. “But these are people that get results and have tremendous influence.”
Trump also used the ceremony to project confidence about developments in the Middle East. He said the war in Gaza “is really coming to an end” and described Hezbollah’s presence in Lebanon as “remnants.”
“They’re down to little fires,” Trump said of Gaza. “We can put them out very easily.”
The U.S. delegation at the event included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, special envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, who has played an informal role in Middle East diplomacy.
The launch came a day after Trump backed away from threats to impose tariffs on several European countries amid a dispute over Greenland, easing tensions with allies attending the Davos forum.
Despite the high-profile rollout, questions remain about the board’s authority, funding, membership and long-term relationship with existing international institutions — uncertainties that may shape whether Trump’s ambitious initiative gains lasting traction on the global stage.
First published: 11:24, 01.22.26