UK opts out of Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ signing in Davos

Britain has declined to participate in Thursday’s signing ceremony for United States President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace”, citing concerns over its structure and the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed the decision on Wednesday while speaking to the BBC from Davos, Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum is ongoing.

“There’s a huge amount of work to do, and we won’t be one of the signatories today,” Cooper said.

She explained that London’s position was informed by both legal and political considerations surrounding the initiative, particularly Russia’s continued war in Ukraine.

“This is about a legal treaty that raises much broader issues,” Cooper said. “We also have concerns about President Putin being part of something that is talking about peace, when we have not seen any indication of a genuine commitment to peace in Ukraine.”

Russian forces invaded Ukraine in 2022 and continue to occupy parts of the country, despite ongoing international diplomatic efforts to end the conflict.

Trump is expected to host the signing ceremony in Davos for the founding charter of the Board of Peace, a body he has described as a mechanism for resolving international conflicts. Permanent membership of the proposed organisation reportedly carries a price tag of $1 billion.

Invitations to join the initiative were earlier sent to dozens of world leaders, although the scope and mandate of the body remain loosely defined.

While the initiative was initially conceived as a framework to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza, its charter appears to extend far beyond the Middle East, fuelling concerns that it could rival the United Nations. The proposal has already drawn criticism from some US allies, including France.

Trump said on Wednesday that President Putin had agreed to be part of the body, although the Kremlin has since stated that it is still studying the invitation.