In a surprising move, US President Donald Trump has unveiled his plans for a new “Board of Peace” to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza. However, the proposal has faced significant pushback from key US allies, including the UK, Canada, Italy, France, Norway and Sweden.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump declared that once the board is fully formed, “we can do pretty much whatever we want to do.” This bold statement has raised concerns among European leaders about the true intentions behind the initiative.
One major point of contention is the proposed membership of the board, which is set to include Russian President Vladimir Putin, a figure viewed as a global pariah due to Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper strongly criticized the idea of Putin being involved in a peace-focused endeavor, stating: “We have still not seen any signs from Putin that there will be a commitment to peace in Ukraine.”
Furthermore, Trump’s demand that each participating nation contribute $1 billion towards the project has alienated several allies, who view the hefty price tag as an unreasonable burden. There are also concerns that the new board could be used to replace the United Nations, an organization established to promote global peace and security in the wake of World War II.
Despite these reservations, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that Israel will be part of the board. However, the majority of the countries that have already committed to join, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey and Belarus, are not considered full-fledged democracies, raising questions about the board’s legitimacy and scope.
As the US president continues to push forward with his ambitious plan, he will undoubtedly face an uphill battle in convincing his skeptical allies to join the initiative. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining the fate of Trump’s “Board of Peace” and its impact on the volatile situation in Gaza.
