A new area of tension between President Trump and his European allies is emerging due to the American president’s insistence on locking in the 60 countries he invited to participate in the Peace Council, which is revealed to be a kind of “mini-UN” with himself as lifetime president. He demands a positive response by tomorrow, when he hopes to announce its establishment on the sidelines of the Davos Economic Forum, amid the crisis triggered by threats against Greenland.

The Peace Council was initially envisioned in the Gaza peace plan and was even included in UN Security Council Resolution 2803 regarding Gaza. It had been accepted, albeit with reservations, by all countries participating in the Sharm el-Sheikh Conference.

However, foreign governments that recently received the invitation to join the Peace Council were surprised to find that the accompanying documents included the Council’s charter, which clearly had no connection to the original initiative. The Peace Council, as envisioned by the American president, is not limited to Gaza nor does it have a defined duration. On the contrary, it aims to operate competitively and as an alternative to the UN itself, raising major questions regarding its legitimacy and institutional status.

Many European governments have already expressed concerns and reservations about participating in such an organization, with the French government leading the objections, followed closely by Germany, while Norway has outright rejected the invitation.

The Greek government is carefully examining Trump’s proposal, both politically and legally. This task has recently been undertaken by Foreign Minister G. Gerapetritis, coordinating with partners inside and outside the European Union to form a final position, taking into account Greece’s participation as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. According to sources, Athens is reluctant to accept the American president’s invitation to join a body that exceeds the clear provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on Gaza and is intended to replace the UN as the guardian of peace and international law.

Given the way the invitations were drafted and the choice of recipients, it is implied that rejecting the invitation would be viewed negatively by President Trump, with implications for future relations with countries that do not support his plan. On the other hand, accepting the invitation would legitimize a process whose future use is uncertain and would further undermine the UN itself.

President Trump is said to have already secured the participation of at least ten countries, enabling him to announce the formation of the Peace Council tomorrow at Davos, while simultaneously targeting those countries that were skeptical of the initiative.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday, January 21, that he accepted the US president’s invitation to participate in the “Peace Council.”

Azerbaijan also responded positively. “We are, as always, ready to actively contribute to international cooperation, peace, and stability,” said its Foreign Ministry.

Other countries reportedly accepting Trump’s invitation include Hungary, Bahrain, Morocco, Belarus, the United Arab Emirates, Albania, and possibly Armenia and Kazakhstan. Canada is said to view the invitation favorably, but it has stated it will not pay the $1 billion required by the American president for a permanent seat on the Council, and it is doubtful whether other countries responding to the invitation will pay this amount.

It is noteworthy that Turkey, despite initial enthusiasm upon receiving the invitation, has not yet responded. Foreign Minister H. Fidan had a phone call yesterday with Marco Rubio regarding both the formation of the Council and developments in Syria, where Turkey appears satisfied that the US is abandoning its Kurdish allies.

Trump’s initiative raises further concerns because the invited countries include Russia, even though it is the greatest threat to peace due to its war against Ukraine. This is why Ukraine’s president is opposed to his country joining the Peace Council.

The Council was initially presented as a body to oversee Gaza’s reconstruction. However, its charter, distributed to foreign capitals, does not limit its role to Palestinian territories. According to the founding document, the Council will be presided over by Donald Trump and will be an international organization aiming to “promote stability, restore reliable and legitimate governance, and ensure lasting peace in conflict-affected or threatened areas.”

The Council will undertake “peacebuilding in accordance with international law,” with Donald Trump as its president. He will also represent the United States. As Council president, Trump will select members of the Executive Council, composed of “world-renowned leaders” serving two-year terms, with the possibility of removal by the president.

The most notable point is that the Council’s president will hold a lifetime position, removable only in cases of “voluntary resignation or incapacity,” and will have veto power over all decisions, which otherwise require a majority of present members.

Council members will serve three-year terms, except for countries paying $1 billion during the Council’s first year, thereby securing permanent membership.

According to AFP, which obtained the Council charter, the Executive Council presided over by Trump will include seven members, all connected to the American president, confirming fears that this is intended as a personal “mini-UN”: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law), former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, American billionaire financier Mark Rowan, World Bank President Ajay Banga, and Robert Gabriel, a close Trump associate on the National Security Council.