Athens, along with several other countries, finds itself facing a difficult dilemma due to pressure from Donald Trump, who is seeking to secure the signatures of as many countries as possible for the establishment of the so-called Peace Council, ideally by Thursday, during an event on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Greek government is thoroughly examining Trump’s proposal from both a political and a legal perspective and is coordinating with partners within and outside the European Union in order to shape its final stance, also taking into account Greece’s participation in the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. According to information, Athens is inclined not to accept the U.S. president’s invitation to participate in a body that deviates from the clear provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on Gaza.

The Peace Council was initially envisaged to apply to Gaza and for a specific period of time (in line with Resolution 2803 of the UN Security Council). However, based on the documents accompanying the invitation sent by the U.S. president to nearly 60 countries, it appears that his proposal goes beyond the original framework: it is not limited solely to Gaza and its duration is extended indefinitely. The impression given is that this would be a parallel structure resembling a permanent international organization, with the United States and Donald Trump himself playing a leading role.

Given the way the invitations have been drafted and the choice of recipients, it is understood that rejecting the invitation would be viewed negatively by President Trump, with all that this could entail for future relations with those who do not contribute to the implementation of his plan. On the other hand, accepting the invitation would also mean legitimizing a process whose future use is unclear, while at the same time leading to a further downgrading and undermining of the United Nations itself.

Within the European Union, Germany and France are inclined to reject the invitation to participate in the Peace Council. By contrast, Hungary has stated that it will accept the invitation, as has Albania among European countries. It is estimated that President Trump has secured the support of at least 10 countries in order to proceed with the establishment of the Peace Council.