President Donald Trump suggested his proposed Board of Peace could supplant an ineffective United Nations, while asserting that the decades-old outfit still could assist in his peacekeeping efforts
"The UN just hasn't been very helpful. I'm a big fan of the UN potential, but it has never lived up to its potential," Trump told reporters Tuesday at the White House. "You got to let the UN continue, because the potential is so great."
Trump was responding to questions around his signature diplomatic initiative that is drawing resistance from fellow Group of Seven leaders, and added that he wished "we didn't need a board of peace" but that "with all the wars I settled, the United Nations never helped me on one war."
The president made a rare appearance to the White House briefing room ahead of his scheduled departure Tuesday night from Washington for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, a gathering at which he had hoped to hold a signing ceremony on Thursday launching the board - a prospect that now seems unlikely to quickly materialize.
Trump has invited dozens of world leaders to the board, a key element of his 20-point plan to bring a lasting peace in Gaza. Few countries, so far, have confirmed they will join. Some key allied leaders outright declined, drawing rebukes from Trump.
The US president threatened France with a 200% tariff on champagne and mocked its president Emmanuel Macron, after he rejected an invitation. Trump also shared a text message from Macron in which the French leader invited him to have dinner in Paris on Thursday and hold talks on a range of issues, including Trump's desire to take over the Danish territory of Greenland.
Trump's Board of Peace proposal has been clouded by worries over its composition, role and the US president's grip on the initiative. Trump late on Monday confirmed that he had invited Russian President Vladimir Putin to join the board, even as the US tries to broker a deal to end the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine.
Some nations worry the the board will enjoy a mandate that encompasses much more than Gaza's reconstruction and could set the stage for an alternative or rival international body to the UN, which Trump has long assailed.
UN spokesperson Farhan Haq told reporters on Monday that the UN Security Council had authorized the Board of Peace only for its work on Gaza, and that the organization didn't want to discuss further operations that have been circulating over the past few days.
"We would have to see in terms of details what the Board of Peace becomes as it actually is established to know what sort of relationship we would have with it," Haq said.
The plan also has been criticized by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said the details of the board had not been coordinated with his country - a rare note of discord from a leader generally in lockstep with Trump.
Further complicating Trump's pitch is a draft charter seen by Bloomberg that asks countries to contribute at least $1 billion to secure a permanent spot on the board. That draft also appeared to suggest Trump himself would control the money.
In addition, while decisions would be taken by a majority, they would be subject to the chairman's approval, according to that draft. Trump would serve as the inaugural chairman, under the draft charter, appearing to grant the US president ultimate decision-making authority.
European allies were working to modify the terms and coordinate a response, people familiar with the matter said, and seeking to persuade Arab nations to also lobby Trump for changes.
More broadly, Trump is pushing ahead with plans for the second phase of his Gaza peace deal, despite numerous obstacles, including the refusal of Hamas to disarm. A key part of that second phase involves a team of technocrats helping run Gaza, with diplomats hoping to see the restoration of day-to-day governance and public services under the broader oversight of the Board of Peace.
Still, Israel has voiced skepticism about pushing ahead with Hamas still in control of about half of Gaza and refusing to relinquish its weapons. Trump has said he expects Hamas to disarm and threatened devastating consequences for the group if it fails to do so.
Also Read: Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs On France After Peace Board Snub, Shares Screenshot Of Chat With Macron
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