Allies tepid on joining Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ as countries study invitations
Some leaders sign on to the Trump-chaired body, but initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm
Key allies reacted coolly on Monday to US President Donald Trump’s invite to pay US$1 billion for a permanent spot on his “Board of Peace” for resolving international conflicts, with analysts likening it to a pay-to-play version of the UN Security Council.
The White House has asked various world leaders to sit on the board, chaired by Trump himself, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, Hungarian premier Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The board’s charter, seen by Agence France-Presse, says that member countries would serve no longer than three years, subject to renewal by the chairman. That is unless they “contribute more than USD $1,000,000,000 in cash funds to the Board of Peace within the first year of the Charter’s entry into force”.
The initial reaction from two key allies, France and Canada, was lukewarm.
“At this stage, France cannot accept,” French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Monday during a debate with French lawmakers, noting that the board’s charter goes beyond the scope of rebuilding and running post-war Gaza endorsed by the United Nations.