Moscow has stated that it is receptive to the idea, whereas Beijing has refused to join, citing its dedication to the UN – centered international system
US President Donald Trump has declared that he “would love” to have Russia and China become part of his ‘Board of Peace’, which was set up to guide the stabilization of Gaza after the Israel – Hamas war. Earlier, Moscow indicated that it was considering the idea, while China has declined, referring to its commitments to the UN.
When speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Thursday, Trump said that many countries had already joined the board, and “there are a lot that are in the process of joining.”
“I would really like to have China and Russia on board,” he stated. “They have been invited. Both are necessary. All viewpoints are needed. There should be no discrimination.”
Trump’s comments came after the board held its first meeting in Washington, which attracted heads of state and senior officials from about 40 countries. More than 20 nations have accepted the US invitation to join the board, and roughly 35 have shown interest in the idea.
However, several major Western countries – including Germany, France, the UK, and Italy – turned down the offer. Some said they were worried that the body could undermine the authority of the UN, while others mentioned the potential involvement of Russia.
Officially established on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos in January, the board is chaired by Trump for life and is tasked with overseeing the reconstruction of Gaza and the implementation of the ceasefire. The body has also faced criticism for having no Palestinian representation, even though Israel has accepted the invitation to join.
Russia has not formally joined but said it received an invitation and is examining the proposal. In January, President Vladimir Putin also proposed contributing $1 billion from Russian sovereign assets frozen in the US – the exact amount for a permanent seat – even before a final decision on membership was made. Moscow said, however, that it has not yet received a response to the proposal.
China declined the invitation, citing its commitment to “true multilateralism” and the UN – centered international system.
At the inaugural meeting, Trump said the US had promised $10 billion for the board’s work, adding that nine other member nations – Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait – had committed a total of $7 billion.