Overview: President Trump’s proposal to establish a "Board of Peace" to help secure a Gaza ceasefire is facing new diplomatic headwinds after threats to seize Greenland and a proposed operation targeting Venezuela alarmed European allies. Key partners including Britain, France and Germany are noncommittal, and invitations to leaders such as Putin and Xi have raised concerns about the board’s composition. The White House is reportedly considering signing a charter in Davos while delaying membership announcements to let tensions cool.
Trump’s 'Board of Peace' At Risk After Greenland Threats Strain European Support For Gaza Ceasefire Plan
President Donald Trump departs after speaking with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump entered 2026 pressing a high-profile plan to end the Israel-Hamas war by creating a so-called "Board of Peace" to oversee Gaza's future. Backed by a U.N. Security Council endorsement at the end of 2025, the initiative was meant to cement Trump’s self-described role as a peacemaker.
But the plan’s momentum has stalled after a string of confrontational moves — including ordering a military operation in early January aimed at seizing then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and publicly threatening to use force over Greenland, part of NATO ally Denmark. Those actions, together with abrupt threats to impose tariffs and provocative social media posts, have alarmed many European partners and put the next phases of the Gaza ceasefire effort at risk.
Davos, Invitations And A Faltering Rollout
Just a week earlier, White House aides expected the Board of Peace to be launched on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump planned to lead a selection of world leaders focused on Gaza. That timetable was thrown into question after Trump’s threats against allies drew an outcry in Europe.
President Donald Trump speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
More than 60 invitations were sent for membership on the board; fewer than 10 acceptances have been reported so far, and several acceptances reportedly came from leaders widely viewed as authoritarian. Notably, invitations extended to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko raised concerns among Western capitals about the board’s composition and purpose.
Why Allies Are Wary
Major U.S. partners have been noncommittal or negative. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot publicly rejected the proposal as presented, saying he opposed creating an organization that would replace the United Nations. Spokespeople for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said they were reviewing the board’s terms; Starmer’s team voiced particular concerns about its composition.
“I wish we didn’t need a Board of Peace,” Trump told reporters, adding that "it might" replace the United Nations even as he praised the U.N.'s potential. He later suggested the White House would try to "work something out" on Greenland with NATO.
Possible White House Response
U.S. officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, say aides have discussed having Trump sign the Board of Peace charter in Davos — even as the membership list is still being finalized — to allow the idea to take root while tensions over Greenland cool. Under that scenario, the charter would be signed as a formal first step and announcements about members could be delayed.
President Donald Trump takes questions from reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Experts’ Concerns
Analysts warn that the Greenland dispute and confrontational rhetoric could undermine broader diplomatic cooperation that the White House needs to advance separate priorities, from halting Russia’s war in Ukraine to securing a Gaza ceasefire. "They’re not separate issues," said Matthew Schmidt, a defense expert at the University of New Haven. He added that Mr. Trump’s deal-driven approach to foreign policy — where each initiative is aimed at a personal win — risks fracturing alliances required for multilateral efforts.
The controversy highlights the fragility of an initiative that depends on broad international buy-in. With European leaders hesitant and notable invitations raising alarm, the Board of Peace’s future and the fate of related ceasefire and conflict-resolution plans remain uncertain.
Associated Press writers Aamer Madhani in Washington, Jill Lawless in London, Geir Moulson in Berlin and Catherine Gaschka in Paris contributed to this report.
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