Britain will not participate in Thursday’s signing ceremony for US President Donald Trump’s newly announced “Board of Peace,” Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper confirmed.
The event, set to take place in Davos, Switzerland, marks the formal launch of Trump’s initiative aimed at resolving international conflicts, which comes with a reported $1 billion price tag for permanent members.
“There’s a huge amount of work to do, we won’t be one of the signatories today,” Cooper told BBC from Davos. She highlighted the UK’s unease over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s inclusion in the board, noting that Moscow’s forces remain active in Ukraine following the 2022 invasion.
“Because this is about a legal treaty that raises much broader issues, we do also have concerns about President Putin being part of something that talks about peace, when we have yet to see any commitment from him toward peace in Ukraine,” Cooper added.
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Invitations had been sent to dozens of world leaders for the ceremony, though the board’s mandate remains vague.
Originally envisioned to oversee reconstruction in Gaza, the charter appears to extend beyond the region and has raised concerns among some US allies, including France, for its potential to rival the United Nations.
Trump stated Wednesday that Putin had agreed to join the initiative, although the Kremlin has indicated it is still reviewing the proposal.