Mexico Declines Trump’s Peace Board, Sends UN Observer

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Mexico declined membership in Donald Trump’s newly formed Peace Board, citing the absence of Palestinian representation, but sent its UN ambassador as an observer to the inaugural meeting in Washington. The initiative, aimed at Gaza reconstruction and broader conflict management, secured US$5 billion in pledged funding from member states and attracted participation from Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and select Global South countries, while major European countries, including France, Germany, and the UK, declined. Mexico’s decision underscores its support for Palestinian state recognition.

Mexico has declined an invitation from Donald Trump to join the Board of Peace, an initiative aimed at overseeing the end of the war in Gaza and promoting global conflict resolution as an alternative to the United Nations. However, Mexico announced it would send its ambassador to the United Nations as an observer to the group’s first meeting in Washington on Feb. 19.

“They invited us to attend as observers, if we were not going to participate. So together with the foreign minister we decided that our ambassador to the United Nations would attend,” Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum said Mexico rejected membership because the initiative does not include Palestinian representation, emphasizing that Mexico recognizes Palestine as a state and supports the participation of both Israel and Palestine in any peace process.

“We recognize the pursuit of peace in any forum, but in this case, when it concerns peace in the Middle East, Palestine, given that we recognize Palestine as a state, it is important that both states participate, right? Israel and Palestine. And that is not proposed in this meeting,” she said.

Trump Hosts First Gaza Peace Board Meeting in Washington

Donald Trump hosted the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington on Feb. 20, bringing together representatives from member nations to outline strategies and funding for Gaza’s reconstruction and broader global conflict management.

The meeting took place at the United States Institute of Peace and focused on rebuilding Gaza and advancing governance and security initiatives in conflict-affected regions. While several Middle Eastern and Global South countries joined the initiative, many Western allies of the United States declined membership or expressed concerns over its structure and scope.

Reconstruction Plans and Funding

A central objective of the meeting was a reconstruction plan for Gaza, alongside funding commitments for humanitarian and development projects. The United States announced US$5 billion pledged by member states “toward the Gaza Humanitarian and Reconstruction efforts.”

The board also reviewed plans for an International Stabilization Force tasked with policing Gaza under the Trump administration’s 20-point proposal to end Israel’s war in the territory. The proposal includes a phased ceasefire, the disarmament of Hamas and the creation of a technocratic governance structure to administer Palestinian territories during a transitional period.

According to the United Nations, rebuilding Gaza and affected areas of the West Bank could cost about US$70 billion. Trump said member states “have committed thousands of personnel to the International Stabilization Force and Local Police to maintain Security and Peace for Gazans.”

The Board of Peace was formally unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. As part of the initiative, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner presented a reconstruction vision featuring large-scale infrastructure projects, including coastal developments and high-rise buildings. Palestinian advocacy groups criticized the proposal as “imperialist.”

Membership and Participation

The White House invited 50 countries to join the initiative. A total of 35 leaders expressed interest, with 26 designated as founding members and at least 14 declining invitations.

European governments remained divided. The European Union declined to join, citing concerns about the board’s charter and governance structure. However, it sent Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Suica as an observer. Major European powers, including France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain, rejected membership. Italy, Cyprus, Greece and Romania participated as observers, while Hungary and Bulgaria joined as members.

Trump’s invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin complicated European participation amid the war in Ukraine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accepted membership, while Russia did not confirm participation.

Several Middle Eastern countries joined, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Morocco, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkiye, Jordan, Qatar and Kuwait. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar attended the meeting.

Participation also extended to Asia and Central Asia. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Vietnamese leader Tô Lâm, and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended. India continues reviewing its invitation, while New Zealand declined participation and Australia remained undecided.

Trump Pressures France to Join Board of Peace with Tariff Threat

Last month, Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on French wine and champagne to pressure Emmanuel Macron to join his proposed Board of Peace.

At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Macron responded firmly to Donald Trump’s tariff threat, emphasizing that France values respect over coercion. He criticized efforts to pressure nations over issues of sovereignty and land, specifically referencing Greenland, and warned that undermining international law allows powerful countries to act unchecked while weaker nations suffer.

Macron highlighted that this period should be one of peace, stability, and trust, though he acknowledged the starkly different global reality. He pointed to ongoing wars, economic instability, and the erosion of democracy in several countries, cautioning that normalizing conflicts is dangerous. Turning to trade, he condemned agreements that harm European businesses, impose unfair conditions, and weaken sovereignty. Macron stressed France’s enduring commitment to independence, multilateral cooperation, and strategic sovereignty, principles shaped by the lessons of World War II.

He also spoke against bypassing established international institutions, implicitly criticizing Trump’s push for countries to join his peace board under political or financial pressure. “There are many examples of international bodies weakened or left by key economies. And when we look at the situation, it is clearly a very concerning time, because we are dismantling structures designed to address our common challenges,” Macron said.

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