World Leaders, Including Trump, Sign Gaza Peace Charter

President Donald Trump launched a significant diplomatic initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on Thursday, unveiling his “Board of Peace” designed to pursue a lasting peace agreement for Gaza.

During a formal speech and signing ceremony before global leaders, Trump introduced the board with 59 world leaders as signatories. The initiative represents one of the most ambitious multinational peace efforts of his presidency.

“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do. And we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations,” Trump stated. “This isn’t the United States, this is for the world. I think we can spread it out to other things as we succeed in Gaza.”

The creation of this board comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza that has destabilized the broader Middle East region and triggered humanitarian concerns across the globe. The initiative appears designed to create a flexible multinational framework that could potentially address other conflicts beyond Gaza in the future.

Trump acknowledged the varied international reputations of participating leaders, noting that while many are “very popular,” others were “not so popular.” “That’s the way it goes,” he remarked, underscoring the pragmatic approach to membership.

Several major world powers have notably abstained from joining the initiative. Russian President Vladimir Putin was absent from the initial signatories, though Moscow has indicated it is discussing potential membership with its “strategic partners.” This hesitation comes against the backdrop of ongoing tensions between Russia and Western nations over the Ukraine conflict.

The United Kingdom has also declined immediate membership. U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper explained to the BBC that the legal treaty underpinning the board “brings up much broader issues.” Cooper specifically cited concerns about Russian involvement, stating: “We also have concerns about President Putin being part of something which is talking about peace, when we have still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be a commitment to peace in Ukraine.”

Several European nations have expressed similar reservations. Norway and Sweden have indicated they won’t participate, following France’s earlier decision to decline membership. French officials have emphasized that while they support peace initiatives in Gaza, they worry the board might undermine the United Nations’ traditional role as the primary venue for conflict resolution.

Indeed, Trump has previously suggested the board could potentially make the UN obsolete. However, he struck a more conciliatory tone in Davos, assuring attendees, “We’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations.” This apparent shift may represent an effort to address concerns about the initiative’s relationship with established international institutions.

Other significant non-participants include Canada and China, whose absence illustrates the complex geopolitical calculations surrounding the initiative. China’s non-participation is particularly notable given its growing influence in global diplomacy and its increasingly assertive role in the Middle East.

Diplomatic observers note that the Board of Peace represents an unconventional approach to international peacemaking, bypassing traditional multilateral channels in favor of a more direct arrangement centered around Trump’s personal diplomacy. The initiative comes at a critical moment for Gaza, where ongoing conflict has created urgent humanitarian needs and regional instability.

As the board begins its work, questions remain about its practical authority, operational procedures, and relationship with existing international peace mechanisms. The coming weeks will likely reveal more about how this ambitious initiative will function in practice, and whether it can deliver meaningful progress toward peace in one of the world’s most intractable conflicts.