Trump and representatives from over 20 countries signed the charter of the Peace Council.

On January 22, 2026, US President Donald Trump signed a document with representatives from over 20 countries and regions during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, officially launching the so-called "Peace Council." Trump will serve as the "chairman" of the council.

The absence of Palestinian and Israeli representatives at the signing ceremony has raised questions about the mechanism's actual effectiveness. Furthermore, the collective absence of major Western allies, with France and the UK explicitly refusing to join, highlights the profound divisions this new US-led initiative has generated in the international community.

01 Signing Ceremony and Membership Composition

The signing ceremony was held during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. Trump and representatives from over 20 countries and regions jointly signed the founding document. Besides the United States, the following countries also participated: Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan.

Several other world leaders, including Alexander Lukashenko, have agreed to join the committee but did not attend the signing ceremony.

“We will achieve world peace. My God, this will be a historic achievement for all of us. Everyone in this hall is a star, otherwise you wouldn’t be here,” Trump said in his speech at the signing ceremony. He pledged that the Peace Committee would work in cooperation with the United Nations and claimed to have seen significant progress in resolving the conflict in Ukraine, that the conflict in the Gaza Strip was nearing its end, that Iran wanted to negotiate, and that the United States was ready.

Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas that Russia was prepared to allocate $1 billion from its assets frozen in the United States to the Peace Committee to support the Palestinian people. Putin stated that the idea of ​​using frozen assets for the Peace Committee had been discussed with the United States previously.

The White House previously released the list of members of the "Peace Commission," with Trump serving as chairman. The founding executive committee consists of seven members, including Secretary of State Rubio, Presidential Envoy Witkov, Trump's son-in-law Kushner, and former British Prime Minister Blair.

According to the White House's "20-point plan" on the Gaza ceasefire and post-war arrangements released last September, the "Peace Commission" will oversee the post-war transition and governance of the Gaza Strip. At the signing ceremony, Trump stated that the "Peace Commission" would cooperate with the United Nations in handling major regional and global diplomatic issues.

02 Trump's Vision and the Focus of Controversy

In his speech, Trump outlined an ambitious vision. He pledged that the "Peace Commission" would work in cooperation with the United Nations, stating that "as the 'Peace Commission' succeeds' in the Gaza Strip, there are many other things we can do."

However, the focus of controversy lies in the commission's operating model. According to media reports, the US offered $1 billion for "permanent membership." The draft charter grants Trump final decision-making power over the commission, and Trump will serve as "chairman for life."

Critics argue that this move by the United States will weaken the authority of the United Nations. Trump had previously stated in an interview that the UN should continue to exist, but the "Peace Commission" "might" replace it, raising concerns about the US's intention to create an international architecture parallel to the UN.

At the signing ceremony, Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, who serves on the organization's founding executive committee, unveiled a "blueprint" for Gaza's future, stating that the Gaza Strip would be developed into residential, tourist, industrial, and agricultural areas. Some commentators likened the ceremony to a real estate developer's roadshow.

03 International Reactions and Divergence

The international community's reaction to the "Peace Commission" was clearly divided. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán explicitly accepted the invitation, becoming one of the few EU countries to participate in the initiative. Argentine President Javier Millais also stated that Trump had invited him to join the "Peace Commission."

However, major Western allies generally held reservations or refused. A spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry stated on the 22nd that France would not join for the time being because the "Peace Commission's" charter did not comply with UN resolutions on the Gaza issue, and some of its content violated the UN Charter.

British Foreign Secretary Cooper has explicitly stated that he will not attend the signing ceremony. The German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung commented, "Any European with a shred of dignity would not seriously consider joining Trump's 'private club.'"

European Council President Costa stated on the 23rd that the EU has "serious concerns" about several aspects of the proposed charter of the "Peace Commission," including its scope of functions, governance structure, and compatibility with the UN Charter.

04 Potential Impact and Geopolitical Games

The establishment of the "Peace Commission" has sparked discussions about potential changes to the global governance system. Trump stated at a press conference that the UN should continue to exist, but the so-called "Peace Commission" he just announced might replace it.

Some analysts point out that the US is attempting to create an institution parallel to the UN, which will further undermine the UN's authority and working mechanisms. Hamid Faris, a professor of international relations at the Egyptian University of Science and Technology, believes that the US habitually bypasses the UN Security Council framework, acting unilaterally and using various pretexts to cloak its actions in a "legitimate guise," creating a false impression of "international consensus."

The committee's "entry point" is the Gaza issue, but the key question is: can Trump's "peace plan" truly bring peace? The answer is most likely no. Most of the 60-plus countries Trump invited share the US position on Middle East issues; a plan formulated by such a "committee" will simply be a rehash of American will.

The United Nations, as a global organization, grants a voice to all countries, regardless of size; Trump's "peace committee," however, is more like a "private American club," where membership depends on whether it aligns with US interests, and the rules are set by Trump.

The fate of this committee will ultimately depend on whether the international community chooses to support a multilateral system centered on the UN or shifts to a new mechanism dominated by a single country. European Council President Costa's statement after the EU emergency summit represents the concerns of most countries: the EU has "serious doubts" about the scope of the Peace Committee's charter, its governance structure, and its compatibility with the UN Charter.