Uzbekistan Agrees to Join US-Proposed Gaza Peace Council

US President Trump extended an invitation to approximately 60 countries worldwide, with only a few responding positively. Uzbekistan is the latest to join.

On January 21, 2026, the press secretary of the Uzbek president officially announced that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev had accepted US President Trump's invitation to join the newly established international "Peace Council" as a founding member.

This peace initiative is based on the Comprehensive Gaza Ceasefire Plan announced on September 29, 2025, which was subsequently approved by UN Security Council Resolution 2803 and aims to end the Gaza conflict.

In his response, Mirziyoyev stated that Uzbekistan views this initiative as "an important step in resolving the long-standing conflict in the Middle East and maintaining regional peace and stability." Meanwhile, a few other countries, including Kazakhstan, have also accepted the invitation, but most invited countries remain cautious and are observing the situation.

01 The Concept and Controversy of the Peace Commission

The Trump administration's proposed "Peace Commission" was designed as an international body, initially focusing on the Gaza Strip, with its responsibilities gradually expanding to other conflicts.

According to the White House's "20-point plan" released last September, the commission would oversee the post-war transition governance of the Gaza Strip, with Trump serving as chairman.

On November 17, 2025, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2803, recognizing and supporting the establishment of the "Peace Commission." Thirteen member states voted in favor, while Russia and China abstained.

The core structure of the commission has attracted international attention. Of the seven founding executive Council members announced by the White House on January 16, 2026, six are from the United States, including Secretary of State Rubio, Presidential Envoy Witkov, and Trump's son-in-law Kushner. Former British Prime Minister Blair is the only non-US member.

The most controversial clause is that member states can obtain permanent membership by paying $1 billion; otherwise, their term cannot exceed three years.

02 Uzbekistan's Diplomatic Choices

As an important country in Central Asia, Uzbekistan has consistently adhered to a peaceful, open, and pragmatic foreign policy. Accepting the invitation to join the Peace Commission aligns with its long-standing practice of expanding its international role through dialogue diplomacy.

In recent years, Uzbekistan has avoided formal military or bloc alliances, instead focusing on enhancing its regional influence through multilateral diplomacy. In his response to Trump's letter, President Mirziyoyev pointed out that joining the commission reflects Uzbekistan's "desire to participate in international peace affairs and play a constructive role."

By choosing to act in tandem with regional countries like Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan may be calculating how to maintain a strategic balance in Central Asia. Kazakhstan, also a Central Asian country, has accepted the invitation to join the commission, with President Tokayev being one of the first world leaders to receive a formal invitation from Trump.

Uzbekistan's decision has also garnered some understanding from China. China has previously stated explicitly that it "welcomes and supports the constructive initiatives proposed by Uzbekistan aimed at strengthening international cooperation on peace and security," while maintaining that the resolution of the Middle East issue should adhere to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.

03. International Divides and Concerns

The Trump administration has extended invitations to approximately 60 countries and international organizations to join the Peace Commission, covering the Americas, the Middle East, and Latin America. However, the international community's response has been mixed, highlighting deep divisions globally regarding the Middle East peace process.

To date, only Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Argentine President Miloš Milà, and a few other countries, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, have explicitly accepted the invitation.

French President Emmanuel Macron has explicitly stated his refusal to join, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has adopted a cautious approach, emphasizing the need to prioritize assessing the impact on Europe.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation, but the Kremlin has stated that it is studying the details and is not in a hurry to respond. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed dissatisfaction with the list of members, claiming that some members are "anti-Israel" and have not adequately coordinated with Israel.

Many countries are concerned that the commission could undermine the authority of the United Nations. One European diplomat bluntly stated that this is a "Trump version of the United Nations," with a flawed structure that excludes Palestinians from decision-making.

04 Regional Reactions and Peace Prospects

The Palestinian side expressed strong dissatisfaction with the composition of the "Peace Council." The Palestinian Islamic Jihad issued a statement accusing the US-released list of members of "fully conforming to Israeli standards and serving Israeli interests."

Notably, no Palestinian names appeared on the lists of the two high-level Councils released by the White House. Palestinian analyst Samir Ambitawi pointed out that the Council does not reflect the rights that the Palestinian people should have, raising doubts about its actual effectiveness.

People in the Gaza Strip are taking a cautious wait-and-see approach. Freelance writer Alwa Ashur stated, "If the 'Peace Council' can resolve these crises, we welcome it; but if it can't, what is its purpose?"

The differences between Israel and Hamas on key issues remain significant. Hamas stated that it will only disarm after a broader agreement on the establishment of an independent Palestinian state is reached, while Israel insists that Hamas must disarm before withdrawing its troops. This fundamental contradiction will test the "Peace Council's" actual mediation capabilities.

05 Clash of Global Governance Systems

The proposal of the "Peace Commission" reflects the profound changes and clashes within the current global governance system. The Trump administration has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with the United Nations and withdrew from 66 international organizations earlier this month, including 31 UN agencies.

Sun Degang, director of the Middle East Studies Center at Fudan University, believes that the so-called "Peace Commission" is a small group assembled by Trump based on business principles, and is far removed from the complex realities of Gaza.

Diao Daming, professor at the School of International Relations at Renmin University of China, points out that the commission lacks representativeness, faces serious legitimacy issues, and may weaken the authority of the United Nations.

Qian Xuming, a researcher at the Middle East Institute of Shanghai International Studies University, points out that the "Peace Commission" elevates Trump's unilateralist tendencies from the policy level to the institutional construction level, possessing three groundbreaking characteristics: from simply withdrawing from multilateral mechanisms to actively building alternative systems; from "unilateral action" to "small-circle rules"; and from "regional intervention" to "global hegemony."

Despite the ambitious nature of the "Peace Commission," it is unlikely to truly replace the United Nations in the short term. The United Nations, with 193 member states, represents the broadest international consensus and possesses mature mechanisms and rich experience in areas such as peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance.

In the Gaza Strip, approximately 1.7 million displaced persons still live in temporary tent camps, facing a life amidst ruins and an uncertain future. The lack of Palestinian representatives on the high-ranking members of the Peace Council makes it difficult for the local population to trust it.

The international order is at a delicate juncture. UN Secretary-General Guterres emphasized that global conflict governance must rely on the UN framework, and no unilaterally formed organization can replace the multilateral system. Whether Trump's "Peace Council" can transform from a diplomatic initiative into an effective mechanism will depend on its ability to genuinely include regional countries, including Palestinians, and the degree of consensus among major powers.