What's happened
A new international 'Board of Peace' led by Donald Trump is set to meet on Feb. 19 to fundraise for Gaza's reconstruction. Several countries, including Italy, France, and Ukraine, decline participation due to legal conflicts and concerns over UN undermining, highlighting diplomatic tensions and legal challenges.
What's behind the headline?
The 'Board of Peace' exemplifies a strategic attempt by Trump to create a parallel diplomatic entity that could rival the UN and influence Middle East peace processes. Its formation, amid international skepticism, underscores the US's desire to assert unilateral influence in the region. Italy's constitutional objections reveal legal barriers within European democracies to such extraterritorial leadership structures. The board's demand for $1 billion contributions for a seat suggests a 'pay-to-play' model, risking legitimacy and credibility. The timing, coinciding with Trump’s potential political ambitions post-presidency, indicates a move to cement a legacy of peace-making, but it risks deepening diplomatic rifts and undermining existing multilateral efforts.
What the papers say
The NY Post reports that the 'Board of Peace' will hold its first meeting on Feb. 19, with some countries like Hungary and Hungary's Viktor Orban planning to attend, while others like Italy, France, and Ukraine decline due to legal conflicts and concerns over US-led dominance. Al Jazeera highlights Italy's constitutional restrictions, citing Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani's statement that Italy cannot join due to legal insurmountability, despite positive US-Italy diplomatic talks. The New Arab emphasizes the controversy over the board's expansion beyond Gaza and its potential to rival the UN, with critics warning of a 'pay-to-play' model and questioning its legitimacy. The contrasting opinions reflect skepticism about the board's legality, motives, and impact on international diplomacy.
How we got here
Trump announced the 'Board of Peace' at Davos, aiming to oversee Gaza's rebuilding and expand its remit beyond the Palestinian enclave. The board's charter names Trump as chairman indefinitely, with plans for fundraising and peace initiatives. Several countries have expressed reservations or declined to join, citing constitutional and legal conflicts, especially Italy, which cannot join organizations led by a single foreign leader under its constitution.
Go deeper
More on these topics
-
Antonio Tajani is an Italian politician, journalist and former Italian Army officer, who served as President of the European Parliament from 2017 to 2019, and has served as a member of the European Parliament since 2014.
-
Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a sovereign country consisting of a peninsula delimited by the Alps and surrounded by several islands. Italy is located in south-central Europe, and is considered part of western Europe.
-
Marco Antonio Rubio is an American attorney and politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from Florida. A Republican, Rubio previously served as Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives.
-
Giorgia Meloni (Italian: [ˈdʒordʒa meˈloːni]; born 15 January 1977) is an Italian politician who has served as Prime Minister of Italy since October 2022. She is the first woman to hold the office and the head of the third-longest government in the h
-
James David Vance is an American author and venture capitalist. He is best known for his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, about Appalachian values and their relation to the social problems of his hometown, which attracted significant media attention during the 201
-
Donald John Trump is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021.