The White House invited several leaders to join the group, originally designed to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza
The president of the USA, , wants the countries that are part of his “Peace Council” to pay US$ 1 billion (R$ 5.3 billion) for a place in this body, which has the mission of “promoting stability” in the world, according to its “statutes”, to which the AFP had access this Monday (19).
The White House, presided over by Trump himself; Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban; and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Member countries – represented by their heads of state or government – could join for a period of three years or longer if they pay more than US$1 billion in financial resources during the first year, says the founding letter.
What is the advice
“The Peace Council is an international organization that seeks to promote stability, re-establish reliable and legitimate governance, and ensure lasting peace in regions affected or threatened by conflict”, says the preamble of these statutes, sent to a series of invited countries.
The text criticizes “the many approaches to peace” that “institutionalize crises instead of allowing people to prosper”, in a clear allusion to the United Nations. Likewise, he considers that it is necessary to have “a more agile and effective international peace organization”.
Trump will be “the inaugural president of the Peace Council”, with broad powers, and the only one authorized to discretionally invite countries to participate, having the last word in the votes. Likewise, it may revoke the participation of a nation, except in the case of a veto by two thirds of the member states.
It will also have “exclusive authority” to “create, modify or dissolve subsidiary entities” of the Peace Council, and will be “the final authority regarding the meaning, interpretation and application” of the founding statutes.
“Each Member State will serve a mandate of no more than three years from the entry into force of this Charter, renewable by the president. This three-year membership will not apply to Member States that contribute more than 1 billion dollars in financial resources to the Peace Council in the first year of validity of this Charter”, adds the document.
This junta was originally designed to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, devastated by two years of war, but its charter does not appear to limit its functions to occupied Palestinian territory.
Reactions
France “does not expect to give a favorable response” to the invitation, a source close to President Emmanuel Macron told AFP.
This initiative “plans far-reaching issues, in particular in relation to respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, which in no case can be called into question”, added the informant, detailing that initial expectations were that the initiative would target Gaza.
The French Ministry of Foreign Affairs recalled France’s “attachment” to the United Nations Charter (…), the cornerstone of effective multilateralism, in which international law, the sovereign equality of States and the peaceful resolution of disputes prevail over arbitrariness, relations of force and war” he added.
France has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council and the right to veto.
A Canadian government source said “Canada will not pay for a seat on the council, nor has Canada been asked at this time,” after the prime minister indicated he would accept an invitation to join.
Paul Williams, professor of International Affairs at George Washington University, reminded AFP that the Security Council resolution approved in October supporting Trump’s peace plan for Gaza gave only the “Peace Council” authority to act in relation to the Palestinian territory.
Reviews
The idea seems to go against international organizations, such as the United Nations, by stating that this council should have “the courage to distance itself from approaches and institutions that have too often failed”.
Trump regularly criticizes the United Nations and announced this month that his country will withdraw from 66 international treaty organizations, approximately half linked to the UN.
The “Peace Council” began to take shape last Saturday with invitations to join the leaders of Egypt, Türkiye, Argentina, Canada and Brazil.
Trump also named his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as members; former British Prime Minister Tony Blair; his main conflict negotiator, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Israel opposed the composition of an “executive council for Gaza”, which will operate within the general body and which includes Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and Qatari diplomat Ali Al-Thawadi.
*With information from AFP
