Belgium has officially refuted claims of its participation in Donald Trump’s contentious “Board of Peace.” This initiative, which requires a $1 billion fee for permanent membership, aims to promote stability and restore lawful governance in conflict-affected regions, focusing initially on the Gaza Strip.
Belgium’s Denial of Participation
Attention turned to Belgium as the White House listed it among the countries purportedly signing onto the initiative. However, Maxime Prévot, Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, clarified with a strong statement on social media. He stressed, “Belgium has NOT signed the Charter of the Board of Peace. This announcement is incorrect.”
European Concerns About the Initiative
European nations have expressed apprehension regarding Trump’s initiative, concerned that it might undermine the United Nations. The presence of controversial leaders, such as Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Belarus’s Alexander Lukashenko, has heightened these fears. Prévot criticized the initiative, labeling it as an attempt by Trump to “replace the United Nations’ system” with his own framework.
- Countries listed as signatories by the White House included Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
- Fewer than 20 nations attended the signing ceremony, significantly below the expected 35.
- Notably absent were representatives from any Western European nations.
Growing Tensions
The timing of this controversy coincides with increasing tensions between the U.S. and European partners. Trump’s recent actions include aggressive rhetoric regarding Greenland, a territory linked to NATO ally Denmark, further straining relations.
During the ceremony, Trump praised the attending leaders from the Gulf region and South America, stating, “In this group, I like every single one of them.” The situation highlights a significant rift in international diplomatic relations amid critiques of Trump’s approach to global governance.
