When the US managed to achieve a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, Europeans were supportive and praised the success, but now few are completely sure that they want to be part of the Peace Board, writes Politico.
US President Donald Trump has praised the Peace Board as an integral part of the plan to bring lasting peace to the Gaza Strip. Now, as more details about the Peace Boards’s structure and operation have emerged, Europeans are starting to hear alarm bells. Skeptics particularly emphasize that the council’s charter does not directly refer to Gaza, but talks about broad powers to resolve international conflicts, raising concerns that it could create a double UN.
However, the US’s traditional allies in Europe are particularly concerned about the invitation to join the board issued to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin. Another political hurdle is the requirement to pay at least 1 billion dollars to be a permanent member of the council. Several European leaders have decided they are not ready to work under such terms, and they are politicians who have maintained friendly relations with the White House, such as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Polish President Karol Nawrocki.
The invitations to potential members of the Peace Board have been met with confusion in many places, deepening the transatlantic rift caused by the Greenland issue. Meloni, according to Italian media reports, is considering withdrawing from the Peace Board, and said on the 21st of January that she needed more time to consider the offer. Meloni is feeling pressure from her government coalition, which is divided on the issue of membership in the Peace Board, and
there are concerns that joining the new organization could conflict with Italy’s constitution.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who has avoided directly criticizing Trump, has also been largely lukewarm about the offer. The prime minister’s spokesman said Britain was still reviewing the rules and expressed concerns about including Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko on the council.
French President Emmanuel Macron immediately rejected the offer, and his office said the council’s charter went beyond the Gaza peace plan and raised serious questions about the threat to the UN.
The Netherlands also declined to participate, and a Danish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Copenhagen had not even received an invitation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who is still considering joining, said on the 20th of January that it was difficult to imagine Ukraine and Russia on the same council.
Putin’s possible participation has angered Poland, and Trump’s political ally, Nawrocki, said he would have no problem telling Putin what he thinks to his face. Nawrocki has not yet made a final decision, however. The right-wing PiS party, to which the president is affiliated, has said that Poland is better off at the negotiating table than not, and that the UN’s time has passed. On the 21st of January, after meeting with Trump, the Pole said he had explained to the US president that he would seek approval from the government and parliament before agreeing to participate in the Peace Board.
Germany has received an invitation, but is still undecided.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is also still considering the options.
Although London has not said “yes,” the British will be represented on the Peace Board – former Prime Minister Tony Blair will do so.
The White House confirmed that Trump will speak about the Peace Board in Davos on the 21st of January, adding that 35 countries out of about 50 invited have responded. Belarus, Hungary, Kazakhstan and Vietnam have confirmed their participation. Jordan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Indonesia have announced that they will join Egypt, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates in accepting the invitation.
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