Membership grows at Trump’s Peace Council, but leaders ask for more time

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, invited dozens of heads of state and government to join the so-called Peace Council, a group created at the initiative of the White House with the initial objective of supervising the situation in the Gaza Strip after the ceasefire agreement. According to Trump himself, the council’s activities should not be limited to the Palestinian conflict, but could be expanded to discuss and intervene politically in other areas of international instability.

Among the invited leaders is President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), who is still evaluating the response with caution. Trump publicly stated that he would like the Brazilian to have a “big role” within the group, but members of the federal government indicate resistance to the proposal. The preliminary assessment is that, as it was conceived, the council concentrates excessive power in the hands of the American president, with unclear rules on decision-making and the scope of deliberations.

The Peace Council is presented by the United States government as an informal political-diplomatic forum, outside the traditional structures of multilateral organizations such as the UN. The proposal provides for periodic meetings between invited leaders, with direct coordination from the White House, to discuss ceasefires, conflict mediation and possible mechanisms for political and economic pressure on parties involved in wars or international crises. The absence of a formal statute, defined membership criteria and institutional balance mechanisms has raised questions about the group’s legitimacy and governance.

According to a senior White House official interviewed by Reuters, around 35 leaders have already committed to participating in the council, out of a total of approximately 50 invitations sent. The US government, however, did not officially disclose which countries accepted or refused, which led international press outlets to investigate confirmations on a case-by-case basis.

In addition to Brazil, other countries are still analyzing the invitation. Canada reported that it agreed to participate “in principle”, but that the details remain under discussion. The Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni, said she needed more time to evaluate the proposal, claiming that the initiative could conflict with the Italian Constitution. Russia, China, Poland, India, Australia and Ireland have also not given a definitive answer so far.

Trump even declared that Russian President Vladimir Putin would have accepted the invitation, but the Kremlin stated that the proposal is still under analysis. Traditional allies of the United States, such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, did not take a clear public position either. A German government spokesman said Chancellor Friedrich Merz will not participate in the council’s signing ceremony during the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Ukraine has stated that its diplomats are studying the invitation, although President Volodymyr Zelensky has said it is difficult to imagine its participation in any instance that includes Russia after four years of war. Reuters sources also indicate that the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, was invited to represent the European Union, but has not responded so far. Pope Leo XIV also received an invitation, according to the Vatican Secretary of State, Pietro Parolin, who stated that a period of reflection was necessary before making any decision.

Some countries have already announced that they will not participate in the council. Norway, Sweden and Slovenia declined the invitation. France has also indicated that it will not join the initiative, which led Trump to threaten the imposition of tariffs of up to 200% on French wines and champagnes.

Countries that agreed to participate in the Peace Council, according to Reuters findings

Saudi Arabia
Argentina
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Belarus
Qatar
Kazakhstan
Egypt
United Arab Emirates
Hungary
Indonesia
Israel
Jordan
Kosovo
Kuwait
Morocco
Paraguay
Pakistan
Türkiye
Uzbekistan
Vietnam