The United Kingdom has said it will not yet join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, citing concerns over the potential involvement of Russia, the country’s foreign secretary said on Thursday.
The United Kingdom will hold off on signing up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, with Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper raising concerns about Russia’s possible participation in the initiative.
Speaking to the BBC on Thursday, Cooper confirmed that the UK had been invited to join the board but would not be among the signatories at a formal ceremony taking place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“We won’t be one of the signatories today,” Cooper said, adding that the proposal raised broader legal and political questions for London.
The White House has described the Board of Peace as part of a wider 20-point plan on Gaza, endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in November 2025 under Resolution 2803. The initiative was initially conceived as a mechanism to oversee a Gaza ceasefire and coordinate post-war reconstruction.
However, Cooper said the scope of the board had since expanded significantly.
“This is a legal treaty that raises much broader issues than the original focus on the Gaza ceasefire,” she said.
Russia’s Role a Key Sticking Point
A central concern for London is the potential inclusion of Russia. Earlier this week, Cooper told parliament that Moscow’s participation would be incompatible with the board’s stated purpose.
“President Vladimir Putin is not a man of peace, and I don’t think he belongs in any organisation with peace in the name,” she said.
Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he had invited Putin to join the Board of Peace, describing the body as “one of the most consequential organisations ever created.”
The proposal comes amid continued international efforts to address multiple conflicts, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, and has prompted mixed reactions among U.S. allies.
Growing Membership Despite UK Hesitation
Despite the UK’s decision to delay participation, a number of countries have already accepted invitations to join the board. According to U.S. officials, those include Azerbaijan, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar and Egypt, as well as NATO members Türkiye and Hungary.
The initiative has evolved into a broader international conflict-mediation platform, with dozens of states invited to take part, reflecting Washington’s push to create a new diplomatic mechanism alongside existing international institutions.
Cautious Approach from London
British officials have not ruled out joining the board at a later stage, but Cooper indicated that further clarity would be needed on the initiative’s legal framework, mandate and membership before the UK could commit.
The decision underscores London’s continued caution in multilateral initiatives that may include Russia, particularly as the war in Ukraine continues and relations between Moscow and Western governments remain deeply strained.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last m...
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" swee...
Russia’s fuel shortages are spreading into Central Asia, exposing the region’s heavy reliance on Russian petrol and diesel as governments race to ...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 10 July covered mounting tensions in the Middle East, political developments in the UK, and major stories from the South Caucasus and Central Asia, alongside key international news.
Ukraine is facing one of the most difficult moments of the war, as a convergence of corruption scandals, political turbulence, financial uncertainty and intensifying Russian offensives places unprecedented strain on the country’s ability to defend itself.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the memorandum of understanding signed with Iran to end the conflict was "over", adding he did not want to engage with Tehran, calling the Iranian leadership "sick people".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics driving a new wave of investment that is reshaping the country's innovation economy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has urged China and North Korea to strengthen cooperation and maintain "strategic resolve" amid what he described as growing global instability. He made the remarks during talks with North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song in Beijing on Friday.
British police have arrested a 26-year-old man on suspicion of the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a former government minister whose death was announced on Friday.
Andy Burnham is on the brink of becoming Labour leader and prime minister after securing the overwhelming backing of Labour MPs in the first round of leadership nominations.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment