Belarus' President Lukashenko Seeks Peace Amidst International Skepticism
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has joined an initiative spearheaded by Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" for Gaza governance, which aims to govern various conflicts globally. The invitation to join the board was sent to several countries, including Hungary and Vietnam, who have already accepted it. The UAE announced its intention to join on Monday.
Lukashenko expressed his desire to bring peace closer to Ukraine and influence Ukrainian leadership as part of the initiative. He described himself as a "highly respected President," after receiving praise from Trump's administration earlier this year for releasing prisoners, including opposition leaders who were jailed during massive protests in 2020.
However, not all countries are welcoming the invitation. The French Foreign Ministry stated that it does not intend to join the board, citing concerns over the initiative's credibility. In response, Trump threatened France with steep tariffs on its goods if Emmanuel Macron were to refuse joining, saying he would "join" but did not have to.
The Board of Peace will require member states to contribute $1 billion to remain a permanent member after three years, according to Bloomberg. This fee has raised concerns among some countries, including Canada, which stated that there are still "a lot of details to be worked out." Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressed doubts about paying the reported $1 billion fee, saying his country would not join if it had to pay such a high price.
Despite international skepticism, Lukashenko's decision to join the Board of Peace suggests that he may seek to expand Belarus' influence globally through this initiative. However, the long-term impact and effectiveness of the board remain to be seen, particularly given the concerns expressed by France and Canada about its credibility and financial requirements.
President Alexander Lukashenko of Belarus has joined an initiative spearheaded by Donald Trump's "Board of Peace" for Gaza governance, which aims to govern various conflicts globally. The invitation to join the board was sent to several countries, including Hungary and Vietnam, who have already accepted it. The UAE announced its intention to join on Monday.
Lukashenko expressed his desire to bring peace closer to Ukraine and influence Ukrainian leadership as part of the initiative. He described himself as a "highly respected President," after receiving praise from Trump's administration earlier this year for releasing prisoners, including opposition leaders who were jailed during massive protests in 2020.
However, not all countries are welcoming the invitation. The French Foreign Ministry stated that it does not intend to join the board, citing concerns over the initiative's credibility. In response, Trump threatened France with steep tariffs on its goods if Emmanuel Macron were to refuse joining, saying he would "join" but did not have to.
The Board of Peace will require member states to contribute $1 billion to remain a permanent member after three years, according to Bloomberg. This fee has raised concerns among some countries, including Canada, which stated that there are still "a lot of details to be worked out." Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne expressed doubts about paying the reported $1 billion fee, saying his country would not join if it had to pay such a high price.
Despite international skepticism, Lukashenko's decision to join the Board of Peace suggests that he may seek to expand Belarus' influence globally through this initiative. However, the long-term impact and effectiveness of the board remain to be seen, particularly given the concerns expressed by France and Canada about its credibility and financial requirements.
. Like, what's really going on here? Trump's just gonna lecture him on peace and then slap some tariffs if he don't like it 
. And $1 billion? That's a lot for one country to take on. I mean, who knows what kinda strings are attached with being part of this board 
. It sounds fishy to me. Ukraine might not even be ready for more "help" from Belarus right now 
. Lukashenko should think about the impact it'll have on his own country before jumping on the bandwagon 
.
. And what's the catch, right? The $1 billion fee seems like a pretty steep price to pay for "influence" or whatever it is they're promising 
. Not sure I trust this initiative one bit 
. It seems like he's trying to boost Belarus' international profile 
. But let's be real, #NotBuyingIt 
. And what's with Trump threatening France with tariffs over this? 
. Lukashenko might be looking for an outlet to exert his influence, but can he really deliver on peace and stability in Ukraine? 
. #PeaceOverPolitics #InternationalDiplomacyMatters
but how does he even think this is gonna work out for him? like, france just said no thanks to the whole fee thing and canada's all like "nah we're not down with that" 
. how can any country trust an organization that wants them to part with nearly a billion dollars? it seems like there are more questions than answers here... 
? it sounds like he's trying to get his friends on the board but who knows if it'll actually make a difference in real life 
is that really how diplomacy works now? 
. I hope Belarus can use this as an opportunity to build bridges and make some real progress, but if it ends up just being another way for powerful people to line their pockets... 