Trump treats the rejection of the invitation to this body as an “inse majeste”, as evidenced by his threat to impose punitive tariffs on France. In addition, the preamble leaves no doubt that Trump's goal is to weaken the UN by creating a competitive organization, notes the newspaper's commentator.
What is the criticism of the Peace Council by the German press about?
What are the main objections to the idea of creating a Peace Council?
What do Russia and China think about Trump's Peace Council?
What are the costs of permanent membership in the Peace Council?
According to “FAZ” Trump's idea may “further weaken the already fragile world order”, even if the leading powers do not join this project. He expresses the view that “neither Russia nor China is likely to decide to submit to Trump.” European countries should also say “no”, he writes in the conclusion.
The press criticizes the Peace Council as Trump's arbitrariness
“Sueddeutsche Zeitung” calls the Peace Council a “billion-dollar club.” Almost every week Trump does something that is considered a “crazy idea” even considering its capabilities, and “of course this also applies to the proposal to create a Peace Council,” he writes. According to the daily, it is “a kind of world supervisory board that would care for global peace and be a kind of competitor to the UN.”
“SZ” notes that permanent membership in the Council will cost one billion dollars, although it is not known whether the money will be transferred directly to Trump. The invitation to this body of the leaders of Russia and Belarus, Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko, proves that “with a cynical and crazy look [Trumpa] into the world.” Does the fact that Iran has long held the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council make it any less crazy? – wonders “SZ”.
“Trump is selling peace for a billion dollars”
According to the commentator, the influence of the Peace Council will remain limited because One billion dollars is a sum that seems excessive even for the rich countries of the Persian Gulf. More interesting, however, is the structure of one of the executive bodies responsible for the peace process in the Gaza Strip, in which Tony Blair, Jared Kushner and Nikolai Mladenov will participate. This body is a source of greater hope than the “strange Peace Council, which will probably soon be forgotten,” we read in the conclusion of the commentary in “SZ.”
“Trump is selling peace for a billion dollars” – the largest German economic daily “Handelsblatt” headlines its commentary. “The US president is recruiting to his so-called Peace Council with threats of punitive tariffs, forcing Europe, as with Greenland, to take a stand,” he writes. By blackmailing people to participate in the Peace Council, Trump is exposing the real nature of this body – it is supposed to be a “geopolitical club on American terms”, not a multilateral instrument.
“Peace for money, influence for loyalty. In this way, the basic idea of international order is violated. Security is not created by depositing a billion dollars” – we read in “Handelsblatt”. The newspaper calls for a “common European response” to Trump's proposal. The Peace Council, dependent only on Trump, will create uncertainty for investors and businesses. “Stability is created not thanks to 'deals', but thanks to solid institutions,” he points out.
The “Tageszeitung” daily writes that the idea of the Peace Council was met with “skeptical reception” in Germany. “Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been silent so far, but almost all parties represented in the Bundestag reacted skeptically to the idea of the US creating a new global body“- emphasizes the newspaper.
