In brief
Responding to concerns regarding Vladimir Putin's potential participation, the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has confirmed that the UK will not sign onto Donald Trump's Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The board aims to address international conflicts and has been met with skepticism from traditional allies, with criticisms regarding its broader implications and the absence of key global players. Notably, none of the permanent members of the UN Security Council, including the UK, have committed to the initiative, underscoring tensions amid ongoing geopolitical conflicts.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has said the UK will not yet be signing up to US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace over concerns about Russian leader Vladimir Putin's possible participation. Cooper told the BBC that the UK had been invited to join the board but won't be one of the signatories today at a ceremony at the World Economic Forum in Davos.The board, which gives Trump wide decision-making powers as chairman, is being billed by the US as a new international organisation for resolving conflicts. Cooper described the board as a legal treaty that raises much broader issues than the initiative's initial focus on ending the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.The charter proposed by the White House does not mention the Palestinian territory, and critics say the board appears to be designed to replace some functions of the United Nations. Some of the US's traditional allies have not agreed to join the board, with none of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council — China, France, Russia, and the UK — committing to participation so far.But at a signing ceremony alongside world leaders, Trump downplayed replacement concerns, stating his belief that the board would help forge an everlasting peace in the Middle East, emphasizing a commitment to ensure Gaza is rebuilt and demilitarised.The board was officially unveiled as part of a plan to rebuild Gaza, yet its extensive charter suggests ambitions that extend beyond this limited scope. As the signing proceeded with representatives from 19 nations, including Argentina, Hungary, and Morocco, Trump mentioned that Putin had accepted an invitation to join the initiative, although Putin has yet to confirm this and indicated Russia was still reviewing the invitation.In her remarks, Cooper supported Trump's plan but stressed the UK's refusal to participate, citing concerns about Putin's commitment to peace in Ukraine and underscoring the need for continued international dialogue among allies. As diplomatic tensions between the US and the UK persist amid Trump's earlier threats to impose tariffs on European nations, Trump's Board of Peace introduction further complicates international relations amidst ongoing geopolitical crises.
