Albanese considers Trump’s invitation to join Gaza ‘board of peace’ despite concerns body may undermine UN | Anthony Albanese
Anthony Albanese weighs in on Donald Trump’s invitation for Australia to join the US president’s proposed “peace board” initiative, despite concerns it could undermine the work of existing organizations including the UN.
The Prime Minister confirmed Australia had been invited to join the new international body at the weekend and promised serious consideration, particularly around proposals to advance Middle East peace efforts.
Leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, Canada, Argentina, the European Commission and Middle Eastern powers have been invited to join the new US-led organisation, which promises to be “a more agile and effective international peacebuilding body”.
A draft statute It shows that Trump will serve as president and national leaders are expected to consist of senior members. Countries are expected to remain in office for three years, and permanent status will be granted to those who pay US$1 billion to the United States.
“We received correspondence from the president last night,” Albanese said on Monday.
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“This is something we don’t have time to think about. We will consider all of these approaches respectfully and through our appropriate processes.”
The board was initially envisioned as part of Trump’s plans to rebuild Gaza, which was largely destroyed during Israel’s war against the terrorist group Hamas.
The so-called “Gaza board” is expected to operate under a broader peace board.
International media reported that the charter defines the board’s jurisdiction as follows: to promote stability and governance around the worldwhile seeking “lasting peace in conflict-affected or threatened areas.”
Such studies are generally the mandate of the UN.
Diplomats around the world have expressed concerns that Trump is trying to undermine the UN. Asked about the peace board, UN secretary-general spokesman Antonio Guterres told Reuters that Guterres “believes that member states have the freedom to organize in different groups.”
Trump has regularly criticized the UN and other multilateral organizations. He even demanded that the United States withdraw from the 193-member international organization. Earlier this month he withdrew the United States from more than 30 UN affiliated agencies, stating that participation was “contrary to the national interests of the United States.”
UN officials say the United States, which has to pay 22 percent of the UN’s normal budget, owes $1.5 billion. Reuters.
Albanese previously held an interview with Kiis FM to discuss his relationship with Trump following his successful visit to Washington in October.
“I deal with people respectfully. Where there are disagreements, sometimes you have to put them aside and work on the things you agree on and your common interests.”
Trump appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to the newly created board. Albanese is a friend of Blair’s and the pair last met in London in September.
Shadow foreign secretary Michaelia Cash told Guardian Australia she believed Labor should consider Trump’s offer carefully.
“The Coalition looks forward to learning more about the objectives, structure, membership and implications of this proposal before Australia makes any commitments,” he said.
“It is important that all nations work together to rebuild Gaza and ensure that it is no longer under the control of Hamas terrorists.”
However, Greens defense spokesman David Shoebridge condemned Trump’s initiative.
“While Palestinians are still being bombed and starved under a so-called ‘ceasefire’, Trump is trying to sell Palestinian sovereignty for $1 billion per seat.
“This is not diplomacy, this is profiting from genocide. Australia better not touch this with a 10-foot pole,” he wrote on social media.
The government has pushed back on plans to impose trade tariffs on countries that oppose Trump’s ambition to control Greenland, calling for the autonomous Danish territory to decide its own future.
Defense minister Richard Marles dodged questions on Monday about what a US takeover of Greenland would mean for Australia’s foreign policy, despite European Union and NATO members warning against the plan.
“NATO has played a very important role and remains very strong,” Marles said.
“We fully agree with the fact that the future of Greenland should be a matter for Denmark and Greenland. They are the dominant powers here and Australia recognizes that and that’s how we see it.”
Trump’s threat of tariffs of up to 25 percent on Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, Britain, the Netherlands and Finland is misguided, finance minister Katy Gallagher said on Sunday.
He declined to comment on the implications for Australia’s foreign and defense policy of Trump attempting to seize territory from a NATO member.
