UK Declines to Join Trump's Board of Peace Amid Putin Concerns

Mon Feb 02 2026 21:23:11 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The UK has decided against joining President Trump's newly formed Board of Peace due to reservations about Russia's involvement and broader implications of the treaty.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed that the UK will not sign the Board of Peace proposed by President Trump, citing concerns over Vladimir Putin’s potential role and the treaty's implications for international relations and peace initiatives. The Board, billed as a way to resolve conflicts, specifically those related to Gaza, has been criticized for possibly undermining United Nations functions. As various nations consider joining, the UK's hesitance reflects broader diplomatic tensions surrounding Russia and ongoing conflicts.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has announced that the UK will not sign up to US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace due to serious concerns regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin's invitation to participate.

During a segment on the BBC from Davos, Cooper confirmed that while Britain was invited to join the board, they won't be one of the signatories today at the World Economic Forum. This announcement coincides with the launch of Trump's initiative, which aims to promote conflict resolution.

Trump's Board of Peace has been painted as a new global organization under his chairmanship but raises legal treaty concerns that go beyond its initial objective of addressing the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. Cooper described the initiative as potentially having broader implications than simply a peace treaty.

Critics are skeptical about the board's intentions, especially since the proposed charter does not include provisions for Palestinian territory and seemingly appears to assume roles traditionally held by the United Nations. Furthermore, no other permanent members of the UN Security Council, including China, France, and Russia, have committed to joining the new board.

Trump's statements during the signing ceremony included his belief that the board could achieve everlasting peace in the Middle East, asserting that it would support Gaza's governance and reconstruction.

However, Cooper reiterated concerns about Putin's involvement, stating, We won't be one of the signatories today because this is a legal treaty that raises much broader issues while highlighting the lack of commitment from Putin towards peace efforts related to Ukraine.

As the board initiates, many of Trump's allies, including nations like Argentina, Hungary, and Turkey, attended the ceremony, but skepticism remains regarding the effectiveness of this new body in fostering peace when historical grievances and conflicts remain unresolved.

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