Europe Left on the Sidelines as Trump Acts on Gaza
Washington presses ahead with a new Gaza governing body as European leaders squabble over legitimacy, the United Nations, and who gets a seat at the table.
Washington presses ahead with a new Gaza governing body as European leaders squabble over legitimacy, the United Nations, and who gets a seat at the table.
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.
The possible inclusion of Russia’s Vladimir Putin would also no doubt keep representatives of the European Union away, though this was likely designed to help resolve other international tensions simultaneously.
Brussels, said a writer in euobserver at the beginning of the week, “finds itself marginalised, disdained by Trump who sees the EU as a transactional pawn and not an indispensable transatlantic partner.”
The Hungarian government has chosen a different path regarding Trump’s Board of Peace. Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Sunday that he had accepted an “honourable invitation” to join the group, welcoming the move as proof that “with Donald Trump comes peace” and that Hungary’s peace efforts were “being recognised.”
🇭🇺🇺🇸📩 With President @realDonaldTrump comes peace. Another letter has arrived.
Hungary’s efforts for peace are being recognised.
President Trump has invited Hungary to join the work of The Board of Peace as a founding member. We have, of course, accepted this honourable… pic.twitter.com/6XZnho9bjj
Countries that wish to be permanent members of the Board must reportedly pay more than $1 billion (€0.85bn), while others can join for free for three years.
Michael Curzon is a news writer for europeanconservative.com based in England’s Midlands. He is also Editor of Bournbrook Magazine, which he founded in 2019, and previously wrote for London’s Express Online. His Twitter handle is @MichaelCurzon_.
