Trump signs a founding document of the body with representatives of several countries at the World Economic Forum in Davos.Image: keystone
US President Donald Trump’s so-called Peace Council is causing controversy around the world. The chairman is the US president himself. Dozens of countries have received invitations to join. Some join in, others are more cautious. An overview.
Jan 22, 2026, 5:04 p.mJan 22, 2026, 5:04 p.m
The US President signs a founding document of the body with representatives of several countries at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Some of the original signatories are governed by authoritarian regimes.
Argentine President Javier Milei, Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will be there in the Swiss Alpine town.
The acting Bulgarian Prime Minister Rossen Shelyaskov also signed on site, but at the same time explained on state radio that the parliament in Sofia still had to decide – as is usual with international contracts.
Top politicians from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Qatar, Morocco, Mongolia, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates will also sign in Davos. Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani is the only woman on the panel.
An overview of who has accepted Trump’s invitation and who has not – and who has not yet decided.
These countries have publicly accepted the invitation
Egypt
The Foreign Ministry writes: “Egypt welcomes the invitation to join the Peace Council.” President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will accept it.
Albania
Prime Minister Edi Rama praises Trump, saying his initiative has “the potential to become a truly transformative model of peacebuilding on a global level.” Participation is a privilege and honor.
Belarus
In front of reporters, ruler Alexander Lukashenko explained that he would accept the invitation to take part.
Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that he will accept Trump’s invitation and become a member of the Peace Council.
Kuwait
According to the state news agency Kuna, Kuwait’s foreign ministry announced that the country would join the body.
Vietnam
Secretary-General To Lam has accepted the invitation, the government officially announced.
These countries initially rejected the “Peace Council”.
France
Because of President Emmanuel Macron’s hesitation about joining the “Peace Council”, Trump is threatening tariffs of 200 percent on wine and champagne.
Great Britain
According to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, the UK will not join initially due to concerns about the possible involvement of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Norway
Deputy Foreign Minister Andreas Motzfeldt Kravik tells the newspaper “Aftenposten” that the country cannot agree to the “Peace Council” as it is currently designed.
Sweden
According to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, he has not yet formally responded to the invitation. According to the current plans, Sweden will not sign.
Slovenia
Prime Minister Robert Golob says his country will not join at this time. The main concern is that the Trump initiative could seriously undermine the international order of the United Nations.
These countries – among others – have not yet made a firm commitment
Switzerland
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said on Friday that the Federal Council would first have to clarify various questions and the more precise design of the new body before it could position itself as a Peace Council.
Belgium
Contrary to an initial statement to the contrary from the White House, the EU state has not signed the charter of the “Peace Council”. “We would like to see a common and coordinated European response,” said Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot.
Germany
Berlin has so far reacted cautiously. “In a time of geopolitical crises, the answer cannot be to withdraw from the international order and try to replace its central organs,” says Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
China
The government only confirmed that Beijing had received an invitation. There is currently no more precise information.
Italy
The government in Rome is, in principle, open to joining. After a conversation with the broadcaster Rai1, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was quoted as saying that there were some elements in the statutes that were incompatible with the Italian constitution. Your government therefore needs more time. She thinks it would be unwise for Europe to stay out of an “interesting” committee like this.
Canada
The country can basically imagine participating, but the details have not been finally clarified, says Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Poland
President Karol Nawrocki expresses interest in the “Peace Council”. Participation in an international body of this kind would first have to be approved by the government and parliament.
Russia
According to the Kremlin, President Vladimir Putin received an invitation from Trump through diplomatic channels. Putin said Russia was ready to pay the $1 billion entry fee for the body demanded by Trump – but only from funds already frozen in the United States.
Ukraine
According to media reports, President Volodymyr Zelensky has received an invitation from Trump. He is said to have said to journalists that it was “hard to imagine” sitting on this committee alongside Russia and Belarus: “Russia is our enemy, Belarus is its ally.”
Vatican
Pope Leo XIV has received an invitation, explains Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, “and we are currently examining our next steps.”
(sda/dpa)