The Board of Peace and Azerbaijan’s expanding global role

As reported, a signing ceremony for the Board of Peace Charter—an initiative proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump—was held on January 22 in Davos. The event took place on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum and was attended by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. During the ceremony, 19 countries signed the document and joined the newly established the Board of Peace as founding members.

This development raises an important question: what initial functions will the organization perform, and what does Azerbaijan’s participation in the Board of Peace promise for the country?

Stabil.az presents the following analysis.

First, it should be noted that, alongside Azerbaijan, the organization includes the United States, Türkiye, Armenia, Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Belgium, Bulgaria, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. At the Davos event, the Board of Peace was officially declared an international organization.

In total, 49 countries, as well as the European Commission, received invitations to join the organization. It is therefore not ruled out that additional states may become members in the near future, further expanding the organization’s geographic and political reach.

Speaking at the ceremony, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. President’s Special Representative for the Middle East, outlined the organization’s future activities. He stated that the scope of the newly established Board of Peace is expected to extend beyond the Gaza Strip and encompass other regions as well. According to him, the Board’s work will not be confined to a single geographic area; rather, its overarching objective is to contribute to stabilization efforts in different parts of the world.

Meanwhile, Jared Kushner, a senior White House adviser and President Trump’s son-in-law, announced the existence of a “master plan” for the initial phase of Gaza’s development.

“There is a master plan. We will implement it in stages in the Middle East. You know, people build cities with populations of 2–3 million. Such work can be carried out within three years. Therefore, the implementation of projects of this scale is quite realistic,” he said.

As noted in our previous article on the subject, participating countries are expected to allocate a total of $1 billion in funding to support the organization’s activities.

This brings us to the key question: what advantages can this newly created organization offer Azerbaijan?

Against the backdrop of growing global instability and the increasingly frequent questioning of the effectiveness of traditional international organizations, Azerbaijan’s presence at the forefront of such an initiative promises a number of significant and positive outcomes, both regionally and globally.

First and foremost, Azerbaijan’s accession to the Board of Peace is likely to provide a positive impetus to relations with the United States, while also opening new diplomatic channels with Washington. Azerbaijan’s status as a founding member of the organization signals that the country is no longer perceived solely as a regional actor, but rather as a state with a voice in global peace and security matters.

Moreover, Azerbaijan’s participation in shaping the initiative—rather than remaining a passive observer—may help soften the critical rhetoric often directed at the country in certain Western political and media circles. Active involvement in an internationally backed peace mechanism can contribute to reshaping perceptions of Azerbaijan as a constructive and responsible stakeholder in global affairs.

At the same time, Azerbaijan’s decision to join the Board of Peace as a founding member can be viewed as a logical continuation of its multifaceted and forward-looking foreign policy. This step further strengthens Azerbaijan’s role in global peace initiatives, deepens its ties with the United States and other international partners, and reinforces the country’s balanced and pragmatic diplomatic posture.

In conclusion, Azerbaijan’s participation in this initiative not only aligns with international efforts aimed at resolving the Gaza conflict, but also contributes more broadly to the promotion of stability, security, and prosperity for societies affected by long-standing conflicts. In this sense, joining the Board of Peace represents both a strategic opportunity and a meaningful extension of Azerbaijan’s active engagement on the global stage.

Stabil.Az