AFP | US President Donald Trump, together with other heads of state, presented the founding document with great pomp on Thursday “Peace Council” initiated by him signed. “Congratulations, President Trump, the Charter has now come into force and the Peace Council is now an official international organization,” said Trump spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt on Thursday in Davos at the signing ceremony on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. According to Trump’s ideas, the committee should “settle international conflicts” – specifically according to the charter Competition with the United Nations.
The logo of the controversial “Peace Council” also suggests this – it is strongly reminiscent of the 80-year-old emblem of the United Nations: the earth framed by olive branches. The crucial difference: while the UN logo shows a world map from the North Pole with all continents visible, the Peace Council logo features the USA prominently and oversized in the middle. The whole thing is decorated in gold, like much of what US President Donald Trump has decorated. The official emblem of the United Nations is also made of gold. On the flag, however, the symbol can be seen in white on a blue background.
In addition to Trump, other heads of state and government as well as representatives from a total of 19 countries signed the founding document in Davos on Thursday, including Argentina’s head of state Javier Milei and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Both have close ties to Trump, with whom they share an extreme right-wing agenda. Other signatories included representatives from Bahrain, Morocco, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Mongolia.
Trump has the highest decision-making power
According to the White House, a total of 35 of the 50 invited countries had agreed to join the committee by Wednesday. France and Norway have so far expressly rejected membership. Britain reiterated its reservations on Thursday. The federal government reacted cautiously and simply stated that she was checking the invitation. Like France, Germany is a committed supporter of the UN.
Most of the co-signers were described by Trump as “very popular leaders.” Others, on the other hand, are “not so popular” – “that’s just how life is,” said the right-wing populist, who himself chairs the “Peace Council”. Trump’s own powers on the council are extensive: According to the charter, Trump decides on membership and has veto power over all decisions.
The Gaza Strip is not mentioned in the charter
The “Peace Council” was originally presented as part of the second phase of the US plan for the Gaza Strip, in which, among other things, the Islamist Hamas is to be disarmed. However, the Palestinian territory is no longer mentioned in the initiative’s charter.
However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shifted the focus back to the Middle East at the ceremony. The panel’s focus will be “first and foremost on ensuring that this peace agreement in Gaza is durable,” Rubio said. Trump reiterated his call for Hamas, which triggered the war in the Gaza Strip with its attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, to give up its weapons. The US President threatened that continued refusal would mean “the end” of the Islamist group.
Israel has agreed to join the “Peace Council”. However, the composition of the body is problematic from an Israeli perspective, as Qatar and Turkey are also said to be members of the “Peace Council” and the subordinate administrative council in the Gaza Strip. Israel accuses both countries of supporting Hamas.
Putin is still considering joining
Several European countries also expressed strong reservations about the “Peace Council” – especially because Trump was also in favor of it invited Russian President Vladimir Putin has. According to Trump, the Kremlin boss accepted the invitation – but Putin himself stated shortly before the signing ceremony that the Kremlin was still examining the offer.
Moscow traditionally sees itself as an important player in the Middle East and pursues its own geopolitical interests in the region. Furthermore, Putin is likely to respond favorably to Trump’s invitation because the “Peace Council” would offer him an international stage despite his war of aggression against Ukraine.
Trump boasts that he has ended “eight conflicts” around the world so far. However, there does not seem to be an end in sight to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which has been going on for four years – even though Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff spoke of “great progress” and only “one open problem” on Thursday before his trip to another meeting with Putin.
The relationship with the UN is unclear
In addition to the invitation list is also the committee itself is controversial. Trump assured on Thursday that the council would “maintain ties” to the UN in its work. But critics accuse him of wanting to create an alternative to the UN.
A permanent seat on the “Peace Council” costs around a billion dollars (around 860 million euros). Non-payers have to be content with a three-year membership. Critics fear a “pay-to-play” version of the UN Security Council. Members would buy their say.
Another problem: an absolute concentration of power on Trump. The US President himself should head the “Peace Council”. The mandate is not linked to his presidency. It is therefore valid – if he wants – for life.
Baerbock and Wadephul keep their distance
The President of the UN General Assembly, Annalena Baerbock, has already expressed her skepticism about the newly created body. There is already an international organization, the United Nations, whose central task and goal is to maintain world peace and international security, she told the German Press Agency. And for good reason, all states in the world have their seat and vote there, regardless of their size, economic or military strength.
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) warned immediately after Trump’s big ceremony in Davos: “In a time of geopolitical crises, the answer cannot be to withdraw from the international order and want to replace its central organs.”