Rome – Italy has said it will not join US President Donald Trump’s controversial ‘Board of Peace’. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the ANSA news agency on Saturday that membership would not be possible due to a “serious legal conflict” between the Italian constitution and the committee’s charter. However, he has also made it clear that Italy is always ready to cooperate in peace initiatives.
Italy, like France, Germany and Britain, is the latest European country to opt out of the committee. The committee was approved by the United Nations last year as a temporary body for post-war Gaza, but its mandate was later expanded and the Gaza issue was dropped.
Citing Article 11 of the Italian constitution, Tajani said that states must be equal to join any international body, but the committee’s charter gives Trump veto power with the right of final interpretation.
Meanwhile, Tajani said Italy is ready to provide police training in Gaza after positive meetings in Milan with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance. The committee is facing widespread criticism after it demanded a $1 billion fee for permanent members. Its first meeting is expected to be held in Washington on February 19. The Trump-Netanyahu meeting is scheduled for the day before. Trump invited 60 countries to sit on this committee. So far, only 26 countries are on the list. Agency
