Gaza Peace Council: World countries between welcoming, opposing, and reserved

US President Donald Trump is seeking to announce soon the formation of a "Peace Council" under his presidency, whose mission is to strategically oversee the implementation of a comprehensive plan to end the war in the Gaza Strip. However, the council's charter, announced by the White House, outlines global roles for the council that extend beyond the Gaza issue, aiming to "ensure lasting peace in conflict-affected or threatened areas," according to the charter's text. A number of countries have expressed reservations about this council, linking the matter to the possibility that this entity could lead to the formation of a rival or alternative body to the United Nations. The world countries invited by President Trump to join the council were divided between those agreeing to join and those opposing its membership, while other countries preferred to wait before responding to President Trump's invitation, and others expressed reservations about the role Washington wants for this council.

Both Bahrain and the UAE announced today, Tuesday, that they have accepted Trump's invitation to the leaders of the two Gulf countries to join the Peace Council under Trump's presidency. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that King Mohammed VI will join the Peace Council as a "founding member." In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said last Sunday that he accepted the "honorable" invitation from his ally Trump to be a "founding member" of the council. In Armenia, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced today via Facebook that he accepted the American invitation. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also signed an agreement today to join the Peace Council. Sources reported yesterday, Monday, that the press secretary of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that the President received the US invitation to join the Peace Council, and that Tokayev had accepted the invitation.

Sources close to French President Emmanuel Macron reported that Paris "is not committed to accepting" the invitation to join the council at this stage, noting that France believes it is necessary to address international conflict issues within existing multilateral frameworks, primarily the United Nations.

President Trump had previously stated yesterday that he invited his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to join the Peace Council, while Moscow said it was seeking to "clarify all details" with Washington before making a decision. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated today, Tuesday, that he received an invitation to join the Peace Council, but "cannot imagine" participating in the council alongside Russia. Meanwhile, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim stated today that his country would take a cautious stance towards the Peace Council announced by US President Donald Trump, until Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip cease and humanitarian aid access is ensured. The European Commission said that its president, Ursula von der Leyen, received an invitation from Trump and is reserving her answer, while the German government stressed the need for "coordination" with its partners. A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced that Beijing "received an invitation from the American side," without specifying its position. In Canada, Foreign Minister Anita Anand said, "We are studying the situation. But we will not pay a billion dollars," and the Swiss Foreign Ministry stated that the country would conduct a "thorough analysis" of the proposal and hold consultations before determining its position, and Australia issued a similar stance. While the White House has not published a list of countries invited to join the Peace Council, many capitals have announced that their leaders have received invitations but have not yet declared their position, including: Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan, Japan, Greece, Argentina, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Slovenia, and Poland, in addition to India and South Korea.