Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump invited world leaders to formalize his proposed “Board of Peace” during a special signing event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The signing event came and passed, and many of America’s longest-standing allies skipped the event. By many long-standing allies, we mean literally every Western European country.
Highlights
- Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ signing saw less than 20 nations attend, with all major Western European allies notably absent.
- Longtime U.S. allies like France, UK, Canada, and Germany declined to join.
- The Board grants Trump near-complete control, including veto power and a $1bn membership fee after three years.
The launch, which took place on Thursday morning, saw fewer than 20 nations.
Less than 20 nations attended Trump's 'Board of Peace' signing event
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
These included Gulf States like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, along with Argentina and Paraguay.
Pakistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Turkey, and Uzbekistan were other countries that signed it. Senior White House officials had anticipated around 35 delegations.
“This Board will be one of a kind, there has never been anything like it!” Trump said about his “Board of Peace” in letters that were sent to almost 60 nations on Friday.
“Our effort will bring together a distinguished group of nations ready to shoulder the noble responsibility of building LASTING PEACE, an Honor reserved for those prepared to lead by example, and brilliantly invest in a secure and prosperous future for generations to come,” he added.
The charter gives Trump near-complete control of the body, including the right to invite and expel member states at will as well as veto power over all decisions. The Board also has a membership fee of $1bn.
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“Every one of them’s a friend of mine,” Trump said during the signing ceremony. “In this group I like every single one of them, can you believe it? Usually I have about two or three that I can’t stand.”
“They’re great people. They’re great leaders,” he added.
He touted how his new group would bring “glorious peace” to the Middle East. “For that region and for the whole region of the world, because I’m calling the world a region. The world is a region,” he said.
He added, “Everybody in this room is a star. You’re all stars.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt seemed to be the only person in the room applauding at several points, before others slowly joined in.
The board’s goals include “promoting stability” and restoring “lawful governance” in conflict zones, including reconstructing the Gaza Strip. But critics have seen it as an initiative to create a MAGA-fied corollary to the United Nations, an institution Trump has repeatedly disparaged.
Bloomberg had reported that European officials were scrambling to change the terms of the board.
Russia, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Israel are among other countries that were invited, and their delegations did not appear.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Pakistan were some of the countries that signed it
Image credits: Evan Vucci/Getty Images
UK’s Sir Keir Starmer said they will not take part in the signing ceremony over concerns about the inclusion of Vladimir Putin.
Norway, Sweden, and France have announced they will not join the board for now. Italy is also set to reject the invitation.
Other countries invited to sign the board include Australia, Belarus, Egypt, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Poland, and Israel.