Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a media conference at the end of the EU summit in Brussels, on January 23, 2026 | Photo Credit: AP
“We appreciate the invitation, but we decline,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters late on Thursday (January 22, 2026) after an EU summit in Brussels.
Washington says the body will help broker and monitor ceasefires, organise security arrangements and coordinate rebuilding in places emerging from war. The concept stems from Trump’s Gaza peace plan.
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Missing from the board’s launch ceremony held at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland’s Davos on Thursday (January 22) were traditional U.S. allies such as Canada, Britain and all European Union members except Hungary and Bulgaria.
Mr. Sanchez cited consistency with Madrid’s commitment to international law, the U.N. and multilateralism as the main reasons it was declining to participate.
Mr. Sanchez also said the Board of Peace did not include the Palestinian Authority.
Israel has joined the board, along with Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Published – January 23, 2026 02:22 pm IST
