Putin Invited to Join Trump's "Peace Council": Is Russia Ready to Take a Risk?
Russia has received an invitation to join Trump's "Peace Council." Is this a genuine opportunity to influence global politics, or a carefully set trap?
Russia Has Not Immediately Refused to Join Trump's Peace Council
Russian President's press secretary Dmitry Peskov confirmed that Russian President Vladimir Putin has received an invitation to join the so-called "Peace Council." Peskov said, "We are currently studying all the details of this proposal."
According to the committee's charter, US President Donald Trump is the lifetime chairman of the institution. Changes to the chairmanship position can only occur if he resigns voluntarily or is deemed incapable of fulfilling his duties by a unanimous decision of the executive committee. Trump holds exclusive powers, including inviting new member states, extending the term of existing members, establishing or abolishing affiliated institutions, and holding a deciding vote in case of a tie.
The term of membership is three years. However, if a country invests more than $1 billion in cash within the first year of the committee's establishment, it will be granted permanent membership status.
The charter text does not mention Gaza, although the initial concept of the committee included setting up an institution to address the Israel-Palestine issue. Instead, the charter grants the committee a broad mission: to establish stable peace in regions where long-term peace is difficult to achieve, and to rebuild effective governance systems in conflict areas around the world. The committee's activities are funded directly by contributions from member states.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov confirmed on January 20 that Russia had received the specific proposal and the text of the charter. He pointed out that Russia "never refuses dialogue," but emphasized that it must clarify whether the organization aims to replace existing international organizations.
China also confirmed having received the invitation, but did not explicitly state whether it would accept. On January 21, during a press conference, when asked about whether China might join the committee, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stated that China always adheres to the principle of true multilateralism centered on the United Nations.
Why Have Countries Like Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Armenia Chosen to Join the Peace Council?
Nations that have announced their intention to join the committee include:
Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Hungary, UAE, Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Vietnam, Egypt, and Israel.
Israel initially refused to join, due to dissatisfaction with some invited countries (Turkey, Qatar).
From the logic of "What's in it for me," these countries that have agreed to join can be divided into the following categories:
- Middle Eastern countries: They will gain influence over post-war Gaza. Their core demands focus on security guarantees, regional political games, economic interests, obtaining reconstruction contracts, and risk control.
- Countries betting on relations with Washington and Trump personally: Some countries hope to obtain political capital from the US, even if this form of cooperation is controversial. Hungary, Argentina, and Kazakhstan are among them.
- Countries seeking international resources and status: For some countries, participating in such a new international platform is beneficial if it promises resource allocation, attracts international attention, and grants members certain status. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, and Vietnam fall into this category.
It's Worth Noting That the Globalist Camp Clearly Refused
France, Norway, Sweden, and the EU have all refused to participate in the signing ceremony of the Peace Council's charter held at Davos. Western media pointed out that French President Macron expressed dissatisfaction with inviting the Russian president, believing that this move was "politically unfeasible" under current circumstances.
It should be noted that the Gaza issue may become the first practical test for the committee. Trump's proposed peace plan for Gaza was passed by the UN Security Council Resolution 2803 with 13 votes in favor and 0 against. At that time, Russia and relevant countries chose to abstain to leave space for the US to push for a ceasefire and resolve the conflict — after all, Hamas has also participated in the relevant agreement.
If the Western globalist camp clearly opposes, Russia could try to participate in the advancement of Gaza-related affairs while pushing for revisions to some provisions of the charter, thereby gaining some influence in agenda-setting. This mechanism should not be clearly defined as a "UN Security Council alternative led by Trump, requiring payment of 'entry fees'."
If Russia and relevant countries ultimately refuse to join, Trump's "labor of love" will significantly lose its weight as a global mediator, so he is likely to make corresponding concessions.
Original: toutiao.com/article/7598095210320609811/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.