President Donald Trump opened a signing ceremony for his Board of Peace on the sidelines of the World Financial Discussion board in Davos on Thursday, saying that it was a “very thrilling day” and that the collective would develop into one of many “most consequential our bodies” ever created.
“As everybody can see immediately, the primary steps towards a brighter day for the Center East and a a lot safer future for the world are unfolding proper earlier than your very eyes,” Trump mentioned in his opening remarks.
He added, “Collectively we’re ready to have an unbelievable probability — I do not even name it an opportunity, I believe it’s going to occur — to finish many years of struggling, cease generations of hatred and bloodshed and forge a fantastic, ever-lasting and wonderful peace for that area.”
Greater than two dozen international locations have to date accepted Trump’s invitation to hitch the board, however not one of the U.S.’s main European allies have but made a dedication and a few have rejected the thought. Trump was flanked on the stage in Davos by greater than a dozen leaders whose international locations had agreed to be signatories. He described those that had been current as “simply the international locations which are right here.”
U.S. particular envoy Steve Witkoff mentioned in an interview on CNBC on Wednesday that as much as 25 international locations had accepted the invitation to hitch the board.
President Donald Trump (C) holding a signed founding constitution on the “Board of Peace” assembly through the World Financial Discussion board (WEF) annual assembly in Davos on Jan. 22, 2026.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Invites had been despatched over the weekend to greater than 50 world leaders, in accordance with U.S. officers. A White Home official mentioned about 30 international locations had been anticipated to hitch.
The initiative has drawn cautious responses from a number of U.S. allies who didn’t explicitly endorse the board or settle for Trump’s invitation as leaders query whether or not a U.N. different physique is critical.
Destruction in Gaza as seen from the Israeli aspect of the Israel-Gaza border in southern Israel, January 21, 2026.
Amir Cohen/Reuters
“I believe the board of peace would be the most prestigious board ever, and it’ll get loads of work carried out that the United Nations ought to have carried out,” Trump mentioned Wednesday. “And we’ll work with the United Nations. However the Board of Peace goes to be particular. We’ll have peace.”
When requested by a reporter on the White Home on Tuesday if the board would change the U.N., Trump mentioned: “It would.”
France, Norway, and Sweden, have declined or expressed important reservations concerning the board, whereas others like Germany, the UK, and Italy have remained noncommittal.
Russia was additionally prolonged an invite, the Kremlin confirmed this week, regardless of the nation’s continued assault on Ukraine.
“The proposal made to us primarily issues the settlement within the Center East and the seek for potential methods to resolve the urgent issues of the Palestinian folks and probably the most acute issues of the humanitarian scenario within the Gaza Strip,” Russian President Vladimir Putin advised a Russian Safety Council assembly, state media reported.
President Donald Trump speaks throughout a Board of Peace constitution announcement through the Annual Assembly of the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, Switzerland, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026.
Evan Vucci/AP
As of Thursday morning, greater than 20 international locations had mentioned that they’d accepted Trump’s invitation. These international locations had been: Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Morocco, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
“That is the best board ever assembled, and all people desires to be on it,” Trump advised reporters in Davos on Wednesday. “I’ve some controversial folks on it, however these are those that get the job carried out. These are those that have super affect.”
The complete invitation listing has not been made public by the White Home. It is unclear what number of international locations will signal on throughout Thursday’s anticipated ceremony.
Guests collect forward of the Board of Peace assembly through the World Financial Discussion board (WEF) annual assembly in Davos on Jan. 22, 2026. The World Financial Discussion board takes place in Davos from January 19 to Jan. 23, 2026.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP by way of Getty Photos
Yvette Cooper, the U.Okay.’s international secretary, mentioned throughout a BBC interview on Thursday that her nation wouldn’t be among the many signatories in Davos. A part of the reasoning behind that call, she mentioned, was the U.Okay.’s “issues” about Putin being invited to be “a part of one thing that is speaking about peace after we’ve nonetheless not seen any indicators from Putin that there will likely be dedication to peace in Ukraine.”
The Board of Peace was first launched final 12 months with a two-year United Nations Safety Council mandate to handle and rebuild Gaza, however the board’s constitution makes no direct reference to Gaza in any respect.
A duplicate of the constitution draft reviewed by ABC Information makes clear the Board of Peace has a wider mandate as an “worldwide group” and “peacebuilding physique” in search of to resolve the world’s conflicts and securing enduring peace, akin to a U.S.-led different to the United Nations.
Trump, who is predicted to chair the board, can probably maintain the place for all times.
“The Chairmanship may be held by President Trump till he resigns it,” a U.S. official mentioned. “A future U.S. president, nevertheless, might select to nominate or designate the US’ consultant to the Board.”
President Donald Trump holds a signed founding constitution on the “Board of Peace” assembly through the World Financial Discussion board (WEF) annual assembly in Davos on Jan. 22, 2026.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP by way of Getty Photos
The constitution draft states that nations that settle for the invitation will likely be given a three-year membership time period, however everlasting membership could be given to member states that contribute greater than $1 billion in money to the Board of Peace throughout the first 12 months.
The U.S. official mentioned that contributions to the board are “voluntary” and shouldn’t be thought-about as an entry payment to hitch. If member states select to contribute cash, the Board of Peace will “implement the very best monetary controls and oversight mechanisms,” the official mentioned.
Putin advised Russia may pay its $1 billion from property frozen by the U.S. over its battle with Ukraine.
The manager committee that may oversee the board will embrace former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in addition to Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner.
ABC Information’ Morgan Winsor contributed to this report.
