In a controversial move, former US President Donald Trump has signed a document establishing a “Board of Peace” aimed at overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza. However, the initiative has drawn criticism from several nations, including the UK, over the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the UK’s Labour Party, has expressed concerns about the board, with his spokesperson stating that the UK is “still looking at the terms.” The UK’s Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, has also announced that the UK will not be participating in the signing ceremony in Davos, citing unease about Putin’s involvement “in something which is talking about peace.”
The Board of Peace was originally envisioned by Trump as a small group of world leaders who would oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. However, it has since expanded to play a broader role in international conflict resolution, with Trump claiming that “just about every country” wants to be a part of it.
The ceremony in Davos was attended by several world leaders, including Tony Blair, who was controversially named on the board, as well as Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was also invited to join, has expressed difficulty in imagining being on the same board as Russia.
The inclusion of Putin has raised concerns among several nations, including Norway, Sweden, and France, who have said they will not join the board for now. Italy is also set to reject the invitation, according to a national newspaper.
UN officials have dismissed concerns that Trump is trying to sidestep the organization, stating that it is unlikely that decades of multilateral peacebuilding with the participation of more than 190 member countries could be replaced. However, French officials have stressed that while they support the Gaza peace plan, they are concerned that the board could seek to replace the UN as the main venue for resolving conflicts.
Despite the controversy, Trump has remained adamant about the board’s potential, claiming that it will work “in conjunction with the United Nations” and that the UN has “tremendous potential” that has not been fully utilized.
