The United Kingdom has signalled that it will not immediately join U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly launched Board of Peace, a global initiative introduced at the World Economic Forum citing serious concerns about the potential involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin and broader legal and diplomatic questions raised by the body’s framework.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper told the BBC that London had received an invitation to sign the board’s founding treaty but would not be one of the signatories at the current stage, noting that the proposal constitutes a legal treaty with implications beyond its original focus on a Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction effort. Cooper described the initiative’s evolving scope as raising broader geopolitical and legal issues that require careful review before the UK commits.
A central factor in the UK’s hesitation is the possibility that President Vladimir Putin whose forces continue military operations in Ukraine could participate in the Board of Peace. Cooper emphasised that London sees this as problematic, saying it is difficult to endorse a peace-oriented body if one of its prospective members has not demonstrated a genuine commitment to peace in the Ukraine conflict. Putin’s potential inclusion has emerged as a key sticking point for Western allies considering whether to engage.
The Board of Peace, which was formally launched at Davos with the signing of its founding charter by several countries, is described by the United States as a multilateral effort to tackle global conflicts and coordinate ceasefire and reconstruction efforts. However, its structure, legal foundations and potential scope beyond the Middle East have drawn skepticism from some traditional allies, including France and Norway, who have either declined invitations or expressed caution about membership.
Cooper indicated that while the UK supports aspects of the broader peace plan, particularly efforts to help stabilise Gaza, it will continue to engage with allies on how to contribute to peace processes and may consider alternative roles or forms of cooperation outside the Board’s current treaty framework.
