Khaberni - New Zealand rejected an invitation to participate in the "Peace Council" launched by US President Donald Trump, joining the list of countries that have not accepted this offer.
New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters stated today, Friday, that "New Zealand will not join the council in its current form but will continue to follow developments."
He added, "Several countries, especially from the region, are willing to contribute to the council's role regarding Gaza, and New Zealand will not add significant additional value to that."
Peters stated, "We see a role for the Peace Council in Gaza, to be implemented according to what was stipulated by UN Security Council Resolution No. 2803."
He called for the Peace Council's work to "complement the United Nations Charter and be consistent with it," noting that it is "a new body, and we need clarifications on this matter and on other issues related to its scope of work, now and in the future."
Peters made this decision in coordination with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his deputy David Seymour.
Wellington did not outright reject the idea of the council but reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations.
While many countries expressed reservations, only a few, including France, Norway, and Croatia, explicitly rejected the invitation.
It is worth noting that last month, Trump threatened to impose a 200% tariff on US imports of French wine and champagne in response to France's refusal to join the "Peace Council," and said that French President Emmanuel Macron "will eventually agree to join, but he is not obligated to do so."
Trump launched his "Peace Council" initiative during the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, and was joined on stage by leaders from 19 countries to sign its founding charter.
Although the main objective of the council was the oversight of the reconstruction of Gaza, its charter does not seem to restrict its role to Palestinian territories.
