A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today he is signing on to President Trump's Board of Peace, although many other world leaders are hesitant to join. At first, the idea was that this would be a group to oversee the rebuilding of Gaza. But the document Trump has invited countries to sign makes no mention of Gaza and sounds more like an alternative to the United Nations. In just a few minutes, we'll hear from a member of another international organization dedicated to peace, former President of Ireland Mary Robinson. First, though, we turn to NPR's diplomatic correspondent, Michele Kelemen. So, Michele, Netanyahu in. Who else is on board?
MICHELE KELEMEN, BYLINE: Well, you know, Netanyahu actually was hesitant at first. He was not happy that Trump invited Turkey and Qatar to the board, but U.S. officials said those countries have to be a part of the solution. Other Trump allies, like Javier Milei in Argentina and Viktor Orban in Hungary, are joining. Egypt now says it's in, along with the United Arab Emirates. Even Belarus and Russia have been invited to this board, A.
MARTÍNEZ: All right. So why are some countries hesitant to sign on?
KELEMEN: Yeah. I mean, many countries, particularly in Europe, are worried that it looks like Trump is trying to create an alternate to the U.N., and they're dubious about this invite list. I mean, the U.N. actually endorsed the Board of Peace back in November. It was in a Security Council resolution backing Trump's 20-point plan for Gaza. But as you said, the charter for the Board of Peace doesn't even mention Gaza. And yesterday, Trump himself suggested that the board could replace the U.N.
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PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Well, it might. I mean, the U.N. just hasn't been very helpful. I'm a big fan of the U.N. potential, but it has never lived up to its potential. The U.N. should have settled every one of the wars that I settled. I never went to them. I never even thought to go to them.
KELEMEN: You know, that's a line that Trump often repeats, though he went to the U.N. to get his Gaza plan endorsed, and he's relied on U.N. peacekeepers in other areas where he says he's solved conflicts.
MARTÍNEZ: Any other holdouts outside of the European nations that are skeptical?
KELEMEN: Yeah. You know, Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney - he spoke at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, yesterday about a rupture in the world order, and he was asked then whether he was planning to join. And he expressed some reservations about how the board is structured and that it doesn't seem to be focused on Gaza. Take a listen.
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PRIME MINISTER MARK CARNEY: It needs to coincide with the immediate full flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. We are still not where we need to be. Conditions still are horrific.
KELEMEN: You know, he's also balking at that $1 billion price tag for permanent membership to Trump's Board of Peace. He says Canada will write checks to help Palestinians directly. You know, Trump administration officials say the $1 billion payment is voluntary. That's if a country wants to become a permanent member beyond the three-year term. And by the way, Trump is supposed to chair this board as long as he likes, even beyond his presidency. And he really does seem ready for a fight to have this board of peace. When French President Emmanuel Macron indicated he might not join, Trump threatened a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne and said he thinks that will change Macron's mind.
MARTÍNEZ: All right. That's NPR diplomatic correspondent Michele Kelemen. Thanks, Michele.
KELEMEN: Thank you. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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