By ATN News Team

Davos, Switzerland: President Donald Trump formally launched the Board of Peace on Thursday at the World Economic Forum, presenting the new body as an international mechanism to advance ceasefires and conflict resolution, beginning with Gaza. The ceremony, and the diplomatic choreography surrounding it, highlighted persistent tensions over the role of the United Nations and exposed unease among several key governments behind closed doors.

Trump signed the founding charter during a tightly controlled event at the Davos Congress Centre, flanked by foreign ministers and senior officials from a group of supportive countries. In remarks to the audience, Trump described the initiative as “a serious effort to bring stability and practical solutions where existing systems have failed,” while insisting the board would “work with the United Nations and other institutions where possible.”

The launch comes as the UN continues to coordinate humanitarian operations in Gaza and leads diplomatic efforts through the Security Council and the Secretary-General’s envoys. Several diplomats attending Davos said privately that the Board of Peace, while framed as complementary, risks blurring lines of authority in already complex conflict environments.

In private meetings held away from cameras, diplomats from multiple UN member states said they were seeking clarity on how the board’s activities would intersect with UN mandates, including ceasefire monitoring, humanitarian coordination and reconstruction planning. One senior European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the concern was not the goal of peace but the architecture being built around it.

“We already have an internationally recognized system under the UN Charter,” the diplomat said. “Any parallel structure creates practical confusion unless responsibilities are clearly defined.”

The absence of several major powers from the signing ceremony was notable. While delegations from a number of Middle Eastern, African and smaller European states were present, France, Britain, Germany and China did not sign the charter, and Russia said it was still reviewing the proposal.

UN officials at Davos avoided direct criticism but underscored the organization’s continued centrality. A senior UN representative told reporters that the United Nations remains the only body with universal legitimacy for peacekeeping, conflict mediation and enforcement under international law, adding that cooperation with any initiative would depend on respect for existing mandates.

Backstage, the atmosphere was more candid. Several diplomats from smaller nations acknowledged they felt pressure to participate.

“It’s not that we oppose peace initiatives,” said one African official quietly in a hotel corridor near the forum venue. “But declining a personal invitation from the U.S. president carries political costs.”

A senior Arab official echoed that sentiment, saying participation was viewed as a strategic necessity rather than a full endorsement of the board’s structure. “You do not want to be absent when Washington is building a new table,” the official said.

Delegations from Gulf states were among the most organized around the event, with aides coordinating meetings and photo opportunities immediately following the signing. Some diplomats lingered afterward, exchanging contact details and discussing possible working groups. Others left quickly.

Russia’s delegation maintained a low profile. Russian officials were seen in side meetings with counterparts from several regions but declined to comment publicly on whether Moscow would join. One diplomat familiar with the conversations said Russia was assessing how the board might affect ongoing diplomacy over Ukraine and the Middle East.

China’s delegation avoided the ceremony altogether. Chinese officials speaking later on separate panels emphasized the importance of multilateralism with the United Nations at the core, a formulation widely understood as a deliberate signal.

Inside the press center, the launch became a frequent topic of quiet conversation among correspondents and diplomats. Several UN-accredited officials said the board’s future effectiveness would depend less on ceremony and more on whether it develops operational credibility.

“There are plenty of initiatives announced every year in Davos,” said one diplomat from a Security Council member state. “What matters is whether this becomes a working structure that coordinates with the UN or whether it becomes a competing track.”

For now, the Board of Peace enters the global landscape as a high-profile political initiative with unresolved questions about legitimacy, coordination and scope. UN officials said they expect further discussions in the coming weeks as governments assess whether and how to engage with the new body.