US President Donald Trump has announced a new “Board of Peace” initiative on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, inviting a number of world leaders, including Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, to take part.

Axar.az reports that Matthew Bryza, former U.S. Ambassador to Azerbaijan and international political expert, shared these insights in an interview with the agency. The expert highlights the symbolism of the Davos ceremony and argues that the Azerbaijan–Armenia peace track could become central to Trump’s broader narrative.

- As you know, Donald Trump has invited a number of world leaders to take part in the Gaza Board of Peace, including Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. Could you please share your assessment of this development? In your view, what is its significance for Azerbaijan’s regional role and diplomatic influence, and how do you evaluate Azerbaijan’s potential contribution to such a process?

- “Today, during the Board of Peace signing ceremony on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, I noticed that President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan had the most prestigious seats on stage. Not only were they in the first row, but they were seated in the middle with one chair in between them. And after President Trump gave his 20-minute introductory speech, he sat in that chair. So President Trump was flanked by both President Aliyev and President Pashinyan.”

“I think what that shows — and that’s not an accident — is that he really does like President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan.”

“President Trump said in his speech, right after he mentioned how he had, from his perspective, ended the war between Azerbaijan and Armenia: ‘And I have some good friends here on the stage. I have people I really like.’”

“So what that shows me is that he really does like President Aliyev and Prime Minister Pashinyan and when he saw them, when he realized they were there and flanking what was going to be his chair, he remembered how much he likes them.”

Trump’s language suggests personal political comfort with both leaders—something that may affect the tone of future mediation efforts.

“That shows that Azerbaijan and Armenia have a real advocate for them getting to a final peace treaty, which will play right into the Board of Peace that President Trump was announcing today.”

“In other words, the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia, once it’s finalized, could be something that President Trump will hold up — and all the members of the Board of Peace will hold up — as a significant achievement.”

If a final peace deal is reached, it could be presented internationally as a “model outcome” tied to the new initiative.

“I think once Azerbaijan and Armenia have achieved their peace, they sure can have influence within the Board of Peace on mediating other conflicts.”

“I think Azerbaijan will have great experience in how to resolve a conflict through a mix of military force and political aspects of diplomacy, and lessons that it could share with the world through the Board of Peace.”

Azerbaijan’s potential role not only as a participant, but also as a country able to share a conflict-resolution case study.

“Now we should keep in mind this is not the Gaza Board of Peace that was announced today. What was announced today was the Global Board of Peace, a part of which is the Gaza Board of Peace.”

“And it’s not clear what this bigger Board of Peace will do. It’s not clear how it will operate.”

Despite the announcement, the initiative’s mechanisms and structure remain undefined.

“So far, only I think 24 countries have agreed to join it, and the US’s key European allies, none of them have agreed to join — only Hungary has.”

“The fact that Vladimir Putin was invited is also going to undercut the credibility of the Global Board of Peace because President Putin, as we know, launched and is continuing his war of choice against Ukraine.”

“So it’s not clear that anything will come out of this Board of Peace.”

“Membership for each country is three years, then that can be extended if they agree to pay a billion dollars to the Board of Peace.”

“President Trump has suggested he envisions the Board of Peace as an alternative to the United Nations, which he will chair as long as he’s alive.”

“So there’s no structure in place to operate it or staff to come up with all the people to run the operation.”

“Trying to replicate the United Nations on a corporate model, meaning executive board and overall advisory board, I just think is not going to work. But it’s very early on.”

“And again, it’s a really great honor for Azerbaijan that its leader was seated right next to President Trump, and the same goes for the leader of Armenia, as both countries pursue peace with President Trump’s involvement.”