Vatican Reviews Invitation to Trump’s "Peace" Council

U.S. President Donald Trump has invited dozens of world leaders to join his Board of Peace initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts. Diplomats know it would undermine the role of the United Nations and established multilateral diplomacy.

The initaitve was started to “help manage” the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction

Trump would serve as chairman — effectively for life.

Holy See Reviewing Next Steps

Cardinal Pietro Parolin replied: “President Trump is asking various countries to participate. I seem to have read in the newspapers this morning that Italy, too, is considering whether to join or not.

We have also received the invitation to the Board of Peace for Gaza. The Pope has received it and we are assessing what to do.

We are looking into the matter, and I believe it is an issue that requires some time to be properly considered before giving a response.”

Countries that have publicly accepted the invitation

Egypt — official acceptance reported.
Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan, Qatar, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates — jointly confirmed participation in the board.
Morocco, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam — accepted.
Kosovo — announced readiness to participate.
Argentina — President Javier Milei announced joining.
Hungary — Viktor Orbán publicly welcomed the invitation.
Israel eventually confirmed participation despite earlier tensions over board composition.

U.S. officials say around 20–25 countries have accepted so far, though not all have announced it publicly.

Countries that have refused

France — declined to join and faced Trump’s threat of punitive tariffs.
Norway — said it won’t join in the current form.
Sweden — no formal acceptance; likely to decline.
Slovenia — reported in news summaries as declining.

Countries that have not yet decided

China — confirmed it received an invitation; no decision reported.
Germany — cautious; insists U.N. remains central.
United Kingdom — evaluating conditions with allies.
Italy — reportedly reviewing the charter’s compatibility with its constitution.
Canada — open in principle but details unresolved.
Russia — said to have been invited and is considering participation — including a reported willingness to pay the $1 billion fee from frozen U.S. assets.
Ukraine — skeptical about sitting in a body that includes Russia and Belarus.
Vatikan — invitation under review.

Picture: © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk, CC BY-NC-ND, #newsOowetbyknd

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