Hold Your Fire!

The Greenland Showdown and Board of Peace at Davos

Jan 24, 2026
Steve Pomper, Crisis Group policy chief on NATO and transatlantic strategy; Olga Oliker, Europe and Central Asia director focused on European security; Richard Gowan, analyst of multilateral diplomacy. They debate a U.S. Board of Peace with a widened global remit and its risks to the UN. They also unpack the Greenland spat, transatlantic strain, implications for Ukraine, and how European leaders might respond.
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ANECDOTE

Trump's Greenland Threat And Davos Announcement

  • President Trump publicly floated acquiring Greenland and threatened 'excessive strength and force' before later walking it back.
  • He also announced the Board of Peace in Davos as a new initiative outside the UN.
INSIGHT

Board Of Peace Risks Undermining The UN

  • Trump's Board of Peace is framed as a global peacemaking forum but lacks clear powers or procedures.
  • Its design centralizes veto power with President Trump and risks undermining UN Security Council legitimacy.
INSIGHT

Charter Expands Scope Beyond Gaza

  • The Board's leaked charter omits Gaza and claims a wide remit to work on peacebuilding globally.
  • That scale surprised diplomats who expected a Gaza-focused oversight body tied to a Security Council resolution.
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