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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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.
Membership Reflects Access And Regional Stakes
- Early membership mixes ideologically aligned states, regional stakeholders, and outliers seeking legitimacy.
- Arab and Muslim countries joined mainly to secure a role in Gaza discussions and access to the US.
Europe's Cold Response And Isolation Risk
- Major European states have largely refused to join, citing challenges to the UN Charter and Security Council authority.
- Europe risks looking isolated if a sizable non-Western bloc legitimizes the Board.