Trump Leads First Meeting of Peace Council; U.S. Allies Wary of New Body

Allies express concerns over Trump's new international peace organization

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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President Donald Trump is set to meet on Thursday with representatives from more than two dozen countries that have joined his Peace Council - and several that have opted not to participate. The new international body, which Trump announced in his State of the Union address, has drawn skepticism from some of America's closest allies who are concerned about its true purpose and potential to undermine existing global institutions.

Why it matters

Trump's Peace Council represents his latest unilateral effort to reshape global affairs, potentially at the expense of longstanding alliances and multilateral organizations like the United Nations. Allies worry the new body could be used to challenge or sideline existing frameworks for conflict resolution and promote Trump's 'America First' agenda.

The details

The Peace Council was announced by Trump in his State of the Union address in January as a new platform for countries to work together on conflict resolution and peacebuilding. However, the administration has provided few details on how the body will function or what its specific mandate will be. Several U.S. allies, including members of NATO and the European Union, have expressed concerns that the Council could be used to undermine existing international institutions.

  • The Peace Council was announced by Trump in his State of the Union address in January 2026.
  • The first meeting of the Peace Council is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The players

Donald Trump

The President of the United States who announced the creation of the Peace Council.

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What they’re saying

“We must be cautious about any new international body that could undermine the hard-won progress we've made through organizations like the UN and NATO.”

— Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany (Der Spiegel)

“The true purpose of this Peace Council remains unclear, and we will be watching closely to ensure it does not become a vehicle for Trump's 'America First' agenda.”

— Emmanuel Macron, President of France (Le Monde)

What’s next

The first meeting of the Peace Council on Thursday will be closely watched by U.S. allies to see what specific goals and priorities Trump outlines for the new body.

The takeaway

Trump's unilateral creation of the Peace Council reflects his continued efforts to reshape global affairs on his own terms, raising concerns among U.S. allies about the potential undermining of existing international institutions and norms.