Italy seeks changes to US-led Board of Peace before joining

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she appealed to US President Donald Trump to reconsider the current “configuration” of the Board of Peace in order to make Italy’s participation possible, Italian media reported.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Rome alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Meloni underlined that Italy is interested in joining the initiative but cannot do so under its existing structure, which she said conflicts with Italy’s constitutional framework.

“I believe that there are objective constitutional issues for us with the way the initiative is currently structured, and I asked him about his willingness to review this configuration in order to meet the needs not only of Italy, but also of other European countries,” Meloni told journalists.

Under Italy’s constitution, the country may participate in international organisations that guarantee “peace and justice among nations” only “on equal terms with other states.” This principle, Meloni explained, is incompatible with the dominant role granted to the US president within the current governance structure of the Board of Peace.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed support for the Italian prime minister’s position. “I would be prepared to join the Board of Peace if it accompanies the process in Gaza. But we cannot accept the current governance structures,” Merz said.

The Board of Peace is a US-led international initiative unveiled at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. It was initially presented as a mechanism to support ceasefire efforts, reconstruction, governance, and stabilisation in the Gaza Strip as part of President Trump’s peace plan. Since its launch, the initiative has been described as evolving to address a wider range of global conflicts beyond Gaza.

According to the draft charter, participation in the Board of Peace is based on invitations issued by the US president, with standard membership terms set at three years. However, countries that contribute at least $1 billion in cash within the first year are granted a permanent seat on the board.

While the charter outlines objectives related to promoting stability, lawful governance, and sustainable peace in conflict-affected regions, questions remain regarding the board’s operational mechanisms and its relationship with the United Nations. These uncertainties have prompted scepticism among some states that traditionally support UN-led multilateral frameworks.

By Tamilla Hasanova