French President Emmanuel Macron declines to join Donald Trump’s proposed Peace Council for Gaza reconstruction, raising concerns about UN principles.
France Rejects Trump’s “Peace Council” Invitation
France has declined an invitation to join the Peace Council being created by Donald Trump to manage the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. Previously, a person from French President Emmanuel Macron’s entourage informed Bloomberg agency that the leader does not plan to accept the US president’s invitation.
According to a draft statute of the proposed group obtained by Bloomberg, Trump would serve as its first chairman and maintain decisive influence on membership issues. “Member countries would sit on the council for three years, but could gain permanent status by paying one billion dollars in cash within the first year of the statute’s implementation,” the agency reported. The White House confirmed these reports.
Paris Rejection Signals Growing US-France Tensions
The rejection from Paris is another signal of growing tensions between France and the United States. French authorities emphasize that contrary to initial American announcements, the Peace Council’s activities would extend beyond the issue of Gaza’s reconstruction.
“Serious doubts are arising, especially regarding respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, which in no way can be undermined,” stated the office of the French president. It is believed that the Peace Council would in the future compete with the UN, which Trump has criticized.
France Rejects “New Colonialism, Imperialism”
“We reject new colonialism, imperialism, vassalage and defeatism,” stated French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot during a parliamentary debate on international affairs. French Minister of Defense Catherine Vautrin added: “We are going through an unprecedented moment of trial for transatlantic relations.”
The establishment of the Peace Council is not the first White House action to face criticism across the Seine – after the intervention in Venezuela, plans to take over Greenland, and threats to impose tariffs on European countries. Paris threatened the United States with retaliation from the European Union and called a meeting of G7 finance ministers.
What is the Peace Council? Trump Creates New Body
The Peace Council is an body whose task will be to resolve international conflicts. The establishment of this body is an effect of the peace plan for the Gaza Strip. Donald Trump is to become the first chairman of this group and he will choose which countries will be invited to membership. Invitations to the Peace Council have been received by about 60 countries and organizations, including leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Canada, Russia, Belarus, and Turkey, as well as representatives of the Middle East region and the President of the European Commission. Poland would be represented by President Karol Nawrocki.