Romania’s decision to attend Trump’s Board of Peace as observer: a calculated engagement?

An in-depth analysis by EUalive’s partner PressOne.ro delves into the strategic motivations behind President Nicușor Dan’s move Romania to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace (also referred to as the Peace Council) in an observer capacity.

Published amid the buildup to the inaugural meeting set for 19 February in Washington, the analytical piece highlights how this participation reflects Bucharest’s urgent efforts to repair strained bilateral ties with the United States.

The Board of Peace, launched following a 2025 UN Security Council resolution endorsing a U.S.-led Gaza ceasefire plan, has drawn widespread scepticism. Trump positions it as a high-level forum for global leaders to resolve conflicts, with a $1 billion membership fee purportedly earmarked for ambitious initiatives, including Gaza reconstruction. Yet critics note the charter’s silence on Gaza specifics, the absence of term limits for the council president (currently Trump personally), and his unilateral authority over invitations, agendas, and even successor appointments.

International relations expert Marius Ghincea, quoted extensively in the PressOne analysis, describes this structure as a fundamental departure from post-1945 international law’s principle of sovereign equality among states. “We have an international organization where an ordinary individual has decision-making power greater than that of member states,” Ghincea warns, suggesting it risks supplanting the UN with a more hierarchical, autocratic alternative.

Major European powers such as Poland, France, Germany, and Norway have declined invitations outright, citing concerns over undermining the UN and the inclusion of sanctioned states like Russia and Belarus. The European Commission plans to send a representative (Commissioner Dubravka Šuica) in an observer role without committing to membership, while Italy has also opted for observer status alongside Romania. This cautious approach underscores broader EU wariness toward Trump’s initiative.

Against this backdrop, President Dan’s confirmation – announced via social media on 15 February – marks a deliberate outreach to Washington. Dan emphasized Romania’s observer status would allow it to reaffirm support for international peace efforts and express willingness to contribute to Gaza’s reconstruction. However, PressOne argues the real drivers are pragmatic and bilateral. Relations between Romania and the Trump administration have reportedly reached a low point, exacerbated by factors including the controversial annulment of Romania’s 2024 presidential elections and perceived Romanian unreliability in U.S. eyes.

Ghincea outlines the potential gains Dan hopes to secure during the Washington meeting: restarting the long-stalled Visa Waiver Program for Romanian citizens, obtaining firm assurances on the continued presence of U.S. troops stationed in Romania (critical for NATO’s eastern flank amid the Ukraine war), and encouraging the administration to downplay or overlook controversies tied to the 2024 election crisis.

“Nicușor Dan wants Romania to return to America’s good graces,” Ghincea explains, framing the participation as a low-risk gesture to signal alignment without full endorsement of the council’s problematic framework.

Domestically, the decision has garnered support from Romania’s largest party, the Social Democrats (PSD). MPs from PSD like Mihai Fifor called it “correct and necessary,” stressing the importance of defending national interests “with dignity and professionalism.” PSD leader Sorin Grindeanu dismissed concerns over costs or implications, while Foreign Minister Oana Țoiu highlighted the need to balance EU commitments with transatlantic ties.

Critics, however, see risks. Analyst Răzvan Petri accuses Dan of drifting away from the EU’s “hard core” and proving an unreliable partner, pointing to the president’s absence from key forums like Davos and the Munich Security Conference. Ghincea remains doubtful that the hoped-for concessions will materialize, given Trump’s focus on personal legacy and the council’s controversial optics – particularly amid ongoing accusations of genocide in Gaza and Trump’s controversial vision of turning the territory into a “Riviera of the Middle East.”

Romania’s choice echoes its historical balancing act between Western alliances and regional threats. As a NATO frontline state bordering Ukraine, maintaining robust U.S. engagement is vital for security guarantees. Yet by engaging Trump’s initiative – even peripherally – Bucharest risks straining EU cohesion at a time when the bloc seeks unified responses to U.S. unpredictability.

The PressOne analysis portrays Dan’s decision not as ideological endorsement but as pragmatic diplomacy in a fractured global order. With the 19 February summit imminent, Romania’s observer role may yield symbolic photo opportunities and quiet bilateral discussions, but whether it translates into concrete benefits remains uncertain.

The original analysis in Romanian can be found here.

Caption: Romanian’s President Nicusor Dan attends the press conference of the Eastern Flank Summit in Helsinki, Finland, 16 December 2025. The Finnish prime minister convened the leaders of seven EU member states bordering Russia to discuss threats to European security and defense readiness along the EU’s eastern border. EPA/KIMMO BRANDT