TODAY’S PAPER | January 20, 2026 | EPAPER

UAE becomes early supporter of Trump's 'Board of Peace' with formal acceptance

Acceptance comes as world react cautiously to Trump’s plan, starting with Gaza then widening


Reuters January 20, 2026 1 min read
United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan accompanies U.S. President Donald Trump as he departs Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, May 16, 2025.PHOTO: REUTERS

The United Arab Emirates has accepted an invitation to join United States President Donald Trump’s newly proposed “Board of Peace”, the UAE foreign ministry said on Tuesday, making Abu Dhabi one of the first governments to publicly endorse the initiative.

The ministry said the UAE stood ready to “contribute actively to the mission of the Board of Peace, supporting greater cooperation, stability and prosperity for all”, marking formal alignment with Washington’s new conflict-resolution effort.

Read More: Trump invites more global leaders to join Gaza 'Board of Peace'

The acceptance comes as governments worldwide react cautiously to Trump’s plan, which is intended to begin with the Gaza conflict before expanding to address other global disputes, according to a copy of the invitation letter and draft charter seen by Reuters.

Some leaders offered guarded responses. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said Italy was “ready to do our part”, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa had agreed “in principle”, pending further details.

The inclusion of a draft charter in the invitation letter raised concerns among some European governments that the initiative could undermine the role of the United Nations, which Trump has repeatedly criticised for failing to support his efforts to end conflicts worldwide.

Also Read: Pakistan invited to join US-led Gaza Board of Peace

Under the proposal, the board would be chaired for life by Trump. Member states would serve three-year terms unless they contribute $1 billion each to fund the board’s activities, which would confer permanent membership, according to the letter.

“This simply offers permanent membership to partner countries who demonstrate deep commitment to peace, security and prosperity,” the White House said in a post on X.

Hungary has also issued an unequivocal acceptance, while most governments have so far refrained from public comment, privately voicing concerns about the plan’s implications for the authority of the United Nations.

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