January 21, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Riyadh / Davos — Saudi Arabia has joined a coalition of eight nations that have agreed to participate in the controversial “Board of Peace” initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump to support a ceasefire, reconstruction and long-term stability in the Gaza Strip and potentially other conflict zones. The announcement, made in a joint statement by the foreign ministers of the participating countries, was issued on January 21, 2026, as world leaders convened at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
In the joint statement, the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Pakistan, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) welcomed the invitation extended by Trump and confirmed that each nation will complete necessary domestic procedures to formalize its participation in the Board of Peace.
According to the communique, the participating countries reaffirmed their support for Trump-led peace efforts, pledging to uphold the board’s mission as a transitional body under the broader framework aimed at consolidating a permanent ceasefire, facilitating the reconstruction of Gaza, and advancing “a just and lasting peace” rooted in the **Palestinian right to self-determination and statehood under international law.”
The Board of Peace was initially conceived as part of the second phase of Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the conflict in Gaza, following a ceasefire agreement brokered in late 2025. Its charter endorsed by United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803 is designed to guide international efforts to stabilize the territory, rebuild infrastructure devastated by years of warfare and support institutional governance mechanisms for the enclave’s residents.
While the initiative has attracted support from a bloc of Muslim-majority nations and some U.S. allies, it has also generated controversy among Western powers and global institutions, with critics warning that the Board of Peace could undermine the role of the United Nations and create parallel frameworks for conflict management that lack broader legitimacy. Several European countries, including France, Norway and Sweden, have publicly declined participation, citing concerns over the board’s structure, powers and implications for established international norms.
Saudi Arabia’s endorsement marks a key diplomatic milestone given its influence in the Arab world and its longstanding advocacy for a negotiated political settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Riyadh’s participation along with that of its regional partners signals a significant bloc of support for the Trump initiative, even as the broader global reception remains mixed.
The Board of Peace, chaired by Trump, is expected to include representatives and envoys from member states, tasked with overseeing reconstruction efforts, managing humanitarian aid flows and supporting mechanisms for political transition in Gaza. Participation is scheduled to be formalised through domestic legal and procedural steps in each participating country.
As preparations continue for the board’s inaugural meetings anticipated in the coming months global attention remains fixed on how this new institution will interact with existing peace processes and whether it can deliver on its ambitious goals of stability and security in Gaza and potentially beyond.