Europe largely stood aside as Donald Trump led efforts to bring peace to the Middle East. Now it is watching sceptically as Washington moves ahead with a ‘Board of Peace’ that will temporarily govern Gaza.
Establishment figures are especially concerned about the prospect of this organisation, which Trump invited world leaders to join on Friday, undermining the United Nations. Though it is worth noting that the U.N. Security Council itself backed the U.S. resolution for a Gaza peace plan that included the establishment of this Board back in November.
Perhaps forgetting that this was the case, France’s Emmanuel Macron rejected Trump’s offer to join the Board on Monday, complaining—as per a statement from his office—that its charter “raises serious questions, in particular with respect to the principles and structure of the United Nations, which cannot be called into question.”
Trump said in response that he will “put a 200% tariff on [France’s] wines and Champagnes” if Macron continues to resist the Board, then “he’ll join.” But he also jibed that “nobody wants him because he will be out of office very soon,” anyway.
Other European leaders are unwilling to take part because of reports of Moscow’s and Beijing’s involvement. An aide to Polish President Karol Nawrocki, for example, said on Monday that he would be among leaders “seen at odds” with himself.
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