“Board of Peace”: Hungary among the founders as several Western allies hold back

U.S. President Donald Trump announced at the World Economic Forum in Davos a civil organization called the Board of Peace. While several countries are approaching the peacebuilding initiative cautiously, Hungary is listed as the only EU member state among the founders, which the organizers intend to serve as a key forum for advancing peace efforts.

What is the “Board of Peace,” and how did it begin?

According to the international press, the initiative was originally intended to reinforce the Gaza ceasefire and to help promote a post-conflict settlement; however, from the outset the founders also spoke of broader, global ambitions. As The Guardian’s Davos reporting noted, not every detail was disclosed about the board’s role and its precise institutional structure, but the announcement was accompanied by participation from multiple countries. The Associated Pressreported that there is also debate around the invitations and the details of membership; according to their reporting, there may be a model under which a financial contribution would secure more lasting membership, while other countries could be included by invitation, on a temporary basis. The U.S. news agency nevertheless highlighted Hungary in particular: Hungary accepted the invitation, and AP listed Budapest among the participants.

Allies’ wait-and-see stance and questions around the mandate

According to Reuters, while several regional powers have joined—or at least are open to cooperation—many Western countries remain cautious, in part because the board’s legal and political framework is unclear, and in part because of the composition of the participants. The Guardian also reported that even after the Davos announcement there is continuing debate over how the “Board of Peace” would relate to existing multilateral institutions, especially the United Nations.

The Hungarian perspective

Hungary is directly affected from an international standpoint because international reports name Budapest among the joining countries. AP specifically listed Hungary among the members, and Reuters also discussed the initiative in connection with the circle of participating and invited countries. From the Hungarian government’s side, joining is described as crucial for advancing peace as soon as possible, and for highlighting this internationally.