KUALA LUMPUR – The Singapore government has confirmed receiving an invitation from the United States to join President Donald Trump's proposed “Board of Peace,” a newly conceived international organisation aimed at addressing global conflict and instability. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) stated on January 20 that it is currently reviewing the offer.
The "Board of Peace," which was initially introduced to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, has expanded its mission to include broader peace-building efforts across the globe, local media reported.
This shift in focus has raised questions about the board's potential to rival international bodies like the United Nations. While the US has reached out to numerous world leaders to participate, the invitation list has drawn both interest and scepticism from key nations.
Invitation extended to dozens of nations
The US government has sent invitations to a range of global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Other nations from Asia, such as Japan, South Korea, India, Indonesia, and Thailand, are also being considered for membership. However, conspicuously absent from the invitations is China, a rival to the US on the global stage.
The Board, chaired by Trump, will consist of heads of state from the invited nations. Initially, each member country will serve a three-year term on the Board, after which permanent membership can be secured through a significant financial commitment. A contribution of US$1 billion within the first year would grant a member country a permanent seat on the Board. This has raised concerns among critics, with some suggesting that the membership structure resembles a “pay-to-play” system designed to consolidate power in the hands of a select few nations.
The first meeting of the Board is expected to take place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, this week. It will be the first opportunity for member states to discuss the scope and activities of the Board, which aims to address not only the reconstruction of Gaza but also to promote broader global stability and peace.
According to a draft charter for the Board of Peace, the organisation seeks to promote stability, restore lawful governance, and secure lasting peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict. The charter, shared with news agencies, highlights the need for an international body that is more agile and effective than the United Nations in resolving global crises. This broader mandate suggests that the Board could play a pivotal role in addressing conflicts beyond Gaza, with implications for international peace-building efforts worldwide.
However, the expanded mandate has raised concerns, particularly in Europe. France has expressed that it cannot accept the invitation to join at this stage. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot noted that the Board’s scope exceeds that of rebuilding Gaza and undermines France’s international commitments, particularly as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. France’s position reflects wider European hesitancy about the legitimacy and effectiveness of the Board of Peace in relation to established global institutions.
Singapore’s position: ‘We are not campaigning’
Singapore’s approach to international affairs has long been characterised by its pragmatic and non-confrontational stance.
Despite receiving the invitation to join the Board of Peace, the Singapore government has stated that it is not actively campaigning for a seat. In an October 2025 parliamentary session, Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan emphasised that Singapore’s policy is to “do more, say less” and to be “quietly helpful and constructive.”
"We are not asking to sit on any boards, but we will step up our longstanding cooperation with the Palestinian Authority," said Dr Balakrishnan.
He reaffirmed that Singapore’s role in international diplomacy is focused on working from the ground up, with a view to addressing the needs of countries affected by conflict, rather than seeking a prominent seat at global tables. Singapore’s engagement with the Palestinian Authority, particularly through the Singapore Cooperation Programme, has been a key part of the country’s foreign policy.
Dr Balakrishnan further highlighted that Singapore has been involved in senior-level meetings with Palestinian officials, demonstrating its commitment to assisting in the region’s long-term development.
Despite this, the invitation to join the Board of Peace raises questions about Singapore’s future role in global peace-building. While the government has not sought membership, the offer may present an opportunity for Singapore to further influence global efforts to address international conflict, particularly in the Middle East.
Global Reactions: Mixed responses from allies
The global reaction to the invitation has been mixed. Israel, which has expressed dissatisfaction with the formation of the Board, has been invited to join but has not yet responded to the offer. The Israeli government has labelled the initiative a "raw deal," indicating its reluctance to be part of a process it perceives as biased against its interests.
Other nations have also expressed cautious interest. Morocco, for example, has accepted its invitation to become a founding member of the Board, with the Moroccan government stating that it supports the second phase of Trump’s peace plan and the creation of a National Committee for the Administration of Gaza.
Morocco’s decision to join underscores the importance of regional actors in shaping the future of Gaza, but it also highlights the complex dynamics at play as global powers jockey for influence in the region.
On the other hand, Germany has thanked the US for the invitation but has indicated that it will carefully consider how it can contribute to a lasting resolution of the Gaza conflict. Germany has expressed concerns about the Board potentially undermining the role of the UN, yet the government has refrained from outright rejection.
The creation of the Board of Peace is seen by some as a move by the US to establish an alternative power structure that could rival the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). President Trump, a vocal critic of the UN, announced in January 2026 that the US would withdraw from 31 UN agencies and bodies, citing their operations as contrary to US national interests. This decision has sparked concerns about the future of the UN and the role of multilateral diplomacy in maintaining global stability. - January 20, 2026
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