Spain rejects invite to Trump’s “Board of Peace”

• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez officially declined an invitation to join the "Board of Peace", citing Spain's commitment to the United Nations and concerns that the Trump-led body lacks Palestinian Authority representation and operates outside international law.
• Spain's refusal aligns with a broader snub from major Western European allies—including France, Germany, and the UK—who have criticized the board's $1 billion "pay-to-play" permanent membership fee and its potential to undermine the established global rules-based order.

Spain has formally declined an invitation to participate in US President Donald Trump's newly established “Board of Peace”, a decision announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday, following a European Union summit in Brussels.

“We appreciate the invitation, but we decline,” Sanchez told reporters after the Brussels summit.

The move shows divisions among US allies regarding the initiative, which aims to address global conflicts but has raised concerns about its structure and implications for established international frameworks.

The Board of Peace was officially launched by Trump during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday.

Initially proposed in September 2025 as part of a 20-point plan to end the Gaza war and oversee reconstruction, the board's mandate has since expanded to promote stability and governance in conflict-affected regions worldwide.

According to its charter, Trump serves as the inaugural and lifelong chairman, with member states required to contribute $1 billion for permanent membership to fund operations.

In his statement, Sanchez expressed appreciation for the invitation but firmly rejected it, emphasizing Spain's commitment to multilateralism and the United Nations system.

He highlighted that the board operates outside the UN framework and lacks representation from the Palestinian Authority, arguing that the future of Palestine must be determined by Palestinians themselves.

“The future of Palestine as a whole should be settled by Palestinians,” Sanchez said.

This stance reflects broader European skepticism, as countries like the United Kingdom, France, and Germany have also opted out, citing potential undermining of the UN's role in global peacekeeping.

The White House has not responded yet to Spain's declination, though Trump has previously withdrawn invitations from non-committal allies, such as Canada.