US President Donald Trump’s push to reshape global diplomacy through a proposed Gaza ceasefire framework is facing fresh uncertainty after his escalating confrontation with European allies over Greenland.
After ending 2025 with momentum behind a US-backed plan to end the Israel–Hamas war — including United Nations Security Council support for the creation of a “Board of Peace” to oversee Gaza’s future — Trump entered the new year portraying himself as a “president of peace.” The initiative was positioned as a key diplomatic achievement, with ambitions to expand its scope to other global conflicts.
That progress, however, now appears at risk.
In recent weeks, Trump has ordered a military operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and repeatedly threatened to use force or economic pressure to bring Greenland under US control — moves that have unsettled allies and complicated cooperation on his Gaza initiative.
Until last week, plans were moving ahead for the Board of Peace to be formally launched on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, with Trump expected to preside over discussions focused on Gaza. That trajectory shifted abruptly after Trump threatened tariffs against European countries backing Denmark’s refusal to sell Greenland, followed by a series of inflammatory social media posts about seizing the Arctic island.
In one Twitter post aimed at Norway’s chief executive, Trump accused the capital of preventing him from getting the Nobel Peace Prize—such a comment was not only a double entendre but also a clear-cut indication of the diplomat’s unwilligness to go for a consensus approach.
From over 60 invitations dispatched to world leaders to participate in the proposed Board of Peace, just under 10 have been accepted thus far, among which are several leaders from repressive regimes. Notably, the major European powers like the UK, France, and Germany have either turned down or remained noncommittal which reflects the increasing disquiet within NATO.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot dismissed the proposal in its current form, stressing that France would never give its support to any entity that seemed set up to replace the United Nations. Officials in London and Berlin said they were still reviewing the framework, with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressing concerns about the board’s composition.
Western diplomats are particularly vocal in their condemnation of the move, which has invited Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
As permanent members of the UN Security Council, Britain and France, in particular, are concerned that the Board of Peace might turn into a competing organization with the power to intervene not only in Gaza but also in other conflicts.
Trump himself has fueled that concern. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, he said the board “might” replace the UN, while also acknowledging the international body’s potential.
“I wish we didn’t need a Board of Peace,” Trump said. “The United Nations never helped me on one war. But you’ve got to let the UN continue, because the potential is so great.”
On Greenland, Trump struck a slightly softer tone, suggesting a solution could be reached that would satisfy both NATO and the United States. Yet he stopped short of retreating from his position, telling reporters, “You’ll find out,” when asked how far he would go to acquire the territory.
The rhetoric has alarmed both European and US diplomats, including officials tasked with implementing the administration’s foreign policy. A few US officials, who did not want to be named, mentioned that the White House is worried about the chance of Trump coming to Davos without enough countries supporting his peace plan, which is the main reason for his trip.
One alternative that has been talked about is for Trump to officially approve the Board of Peace charter but not disclose its members right away, thus giving time for the Greenland issue to cool off and for talks with doubtful partners to continue.
Under this approach, the board would be formally established, but announcements about participating leaders would be delayed until later in January.
Analysts warn that Trump’s handling of Greenland could undermine broader US diplomatic objectives. Matthew Schmidt, a defence expert at the University of New Haven, said European support is essential not only for Gaza-related efforts but also for initiatives aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine.
“These aren’t separate issues,” Schmidt said. “Trump approaches foreign policy as a series of deals, each designed to produce a personal win. But alienating allies over one issue weakens leverage across all of them.”
Schmidt added that Trump’s desire for control appears to drive his approach to international institutions. “If he can’t run it, he looks to replace it,” he said, describing the proposed Board of Peace as an unprecedented and uncertain experiment in global governance.
As tensions rise, the future of Trump’s Gaza ceasefire plan — and his broader diplomatic ambitions — now hinges on whether he can repair strained alliances while pushing forward with his vision.
