France has confirmed that it will not, for now, join US President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace”, citing concerns that the initiative’s charter does not align with United Nations resolutions on Gaza and could conflict with the UN Charter.
A spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry said the document sent to prospective members does not fit within a UN-backed framework to resolve the war in Gaza and contains problematic provisions.
“It was not corresponding on the one hand with the pure Gaza mandate, which is not even mentioned, and on the other hand, there are elements of this charter which are contrary to the United Nations charter,” spokesperson Pascal Confavreux said.
The comments follow earlier remarks by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot who said Paris supports efforts to achieve peace in Gaza but does not favor the creation of a new international body outside existing multilateral institutions.
French officials have stressed that any peace initiative should work within established UN mechanisms rather than create parallel structures that could weaken the international system.
Trump has proposed the Board of Peace as a new global body to address conflicts, starting with Gaza, but the idea has triggered unease in several European capitals.
Some governments fear the initiative could undermine the role of the United Nations and existing diplomatic frameworks.
France’s position signals growing European caution over the US proposal and highlights the diplomatic hurdles the initiative faces as Washington seeks broader international backing.
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