New Zealand has formally declined an invitation to participate in US President Donald Trump’s proposed Board of Peace, joining a limited group of nations to reject the initiative.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters announced the decision on Friday, stating, “New Zealand will not be joining the Board in its current form but will continue to monitor developments.”
Peters explained the move, noting, “A number of states, particularly from the region, have stepped up to contribute to the Board’s role on Gaza, and New Zealand would not add significant further value to that.”
While several countries have expressed reservations about the board, only a few – including France, Norway, and Croatia – have explicitly turned down invitations thus far.
New Zealand foreign minister made this decision in consultation with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour.
Wellington did not entirely dismiss the concept of the board. Instead, it reaffirmed its commitment to the United Nations framework. “We see a role for the Board of Peace in Gaza, to be carried out as mandated by UN Security Council Resolution 2803,” Peters said.
He emphasised the importance of aligning the new body with established international institutions, stating, “As a leading founder and longstanding supporter of the United Nations, it is important that the Board’s work is complementary to and consistent with the UN Charter.”
Peters added, “It is a new body, and we need clarity on this, and on other questions relating to its scope, now and in the future.”
President Trump launched the Board of Peace initiative last week during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He appeared on stage with leaders and officials from 19 countries to sign its founding charter.
Although initially presented as a mechanism to oversee the reconstruction of Gaza, the board’s charter does not explicitly confine its role to the Palestinian territory.
