Italy Declines Membership in U.S.-Led “Board of Peace” Citing Constitutional Conflicts
ROME — Italy has officially announced its decision not to join the “Board of Peace,” the international body recently initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump, citing “insurmountable” legal and constitutional barriers. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed the government’s stance on Saturday, ending weeks of speculation regarding Rome’s participation in the controversial organization.
The refusal centers on specific provisions within the Board’s charter that conflict with Article 11 of the Italian Constitution. This article permits Italy to limit its sovereignty to join international organizations only on “conditions of equality with other states.” According to Tajani, the current structure of the Board of Peace—which designates the U.S. President as the permanent chairman with significant veto powers—fails to meet these requirements of equal footing among member nations.
“We cannot participate in the Board of Peace because there is a constitutional limit,” Tajani told the ANSA news agency following meetings in Milan with U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. “This is insurmountable from a legal standpoint.”
The Board of Peace was formally launched in late January 2026 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. While initially presented as a mechanism to oversee the ceasefire and reconstruction efforts in the Gaza Strip, its charter outlines a broader mandate for global conflict resolution. The initiative has drawn support from approximately 26 nations but has faced resistance from key European powers. Alongside Italy, other major U.S. allies including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom have also opted not to join the body.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had previously signaled hesitation, describing the constitutional issues as problematic during a press briefing in January. While she emphasized Italy’s willingness to support peace initiatives, she noted that the Board’s governance structure, which some critics have described as a “pay-to-play” model requiring substantial financial contributions for permanent membership, was incompatible with Italian law.
Despite the refusal to formally join the organization, Foreign Minister Tajani reiterated Italy’s commitment to international peace efforts. He emphasized that Rome remains “always available” to discuss diplomatic solutions and will continue to collaborate with the United States and other partners through traditional multilateral frameworks, such as the United Nations and NATO.
The rejection marks a significant diplomatic setback for the new initiative, which aimed to create an alternative forum for conflict management outside the United Nations Security Council. The Board is scheduled to hold its first working meeting in Washington, D.C., later this month to discuss fundraising for Gaza’s reconstruction, a meeting that will now proceed without the formal participation of one of Europe’s key diplomatic players.
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