Vatican stands aside from Trump’s Board of Peace

The Vatican will not join US President Donald Trump's so-called "Board of Peace" initiative, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's top diplomatic official, said.

He added that crisis management efforts should instead be handled by the United Nations, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Holy See "will not participate in the Board of Peace because of its particular nature, which is evidently not that of other States," Parolin emphasised.

Pope Leo, the first American pope and a critic of certain Trump policies, received an invitation to join the board in January.

The Board of Peace is an international initiative spearheaded by the United States, unveiled at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos. 

It was initially designed to support ceasefire efforts, reconstruction, governance, and overall stabilisation in the Gaza Strip under Trump’s peace plan, but it has since been described as broadening its mandate to tackle global conflict issues beyond Gaza.

Under the draft charter, countries receive invitations from the US president to join the board, with standard membership terms lasting three years. However, nations that contribute at least $1 billion in cash during the first year are offered a permanent seat.

While the board’s charter emphasises promoting stability, lawful governance, and long-term peace in regions affected by conflict, its operational mechanisms and the nature of its relationship with the United Nations remain undefined, prompting scepticism among some traditional UN supporters.

By Jeyhun Aghazada