Argentina ‘might use Trump’s peace board to make new declare on the Falklands’ as officers warn ‘monster’ organisation might diminish UK energy by sidelining the UN
Argentina could use Donald Trump‘s new ‘peace board’ as a vehicle to make a new claim on the Falkland Islands, officials have warned.
The UK is worried that Argentine president Javier Milei, a close supporter of Mr Trump, could use the US leader’s control of the body to further his country’s baseless claim to the territory.
Alarm bells are starting to ring over Trump’s plans for an organisation ostensibly set up to end the war in Gaza but which critics say is being designed to replace the United Nations.
Mr Trump intends to chair it, and has been inviting up to 60 world leaders to join him, including Russian dictator Vladimir Putin.
Government ministers have publicly said the UK will refuse to join if Putin is a member.
Behind the scenes officials are reportedly claiming a body they helped set up to end the bloodshed in Gaza had become a ‘monster’ with a far wider purpose.
They warned if it could ‘undermine’ the UN, where Britain has had a seat at the top security council since it was set up by the victorious Second World War allies, it could diminish UK soft power.
Hugh Lovatt, a senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told the Telegraph: ‘The UK would be a junior partner on the board of peace.
‘It would have no more power than any other country. Trump would be the arbiter. Contrast that with the UK’s role on the UN’s Security Council.’
The UK is worried that Argentine president Javier Milei, a close supporter of Mr Trump, could use the US leader’s control of the body to further his country’s baseless claim to the territory
Government ministers have publicly said the UK will refuse to join if Putin is a member
No 10 indicated the Prime Minister is discussing with allies whether to join the board after an invite from Mr Trump was extended to them.
The board is part of the US president’s 20-point peace plan to bring a sustained end to the conflict in the Middle East, and is expected to help govern Gaza in the medium term.
Mr Trump intends to chair it, and has been inviting world leaders to join it.
Reports suggesting Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Aleksandr Lukashenko are among those invited to join the organisation were condemned by ministers on Monday.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper suggested the Russian leader does not belong on the board, and Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, described the idea as ‘absurd’.
On Monday, the Kremlin said the Russian president had received an offer to sit on the board, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying Moscow was ‘studying all details of this offer’.
Asked on Monday if he had invited Mr Putin to join the board of peace, Mr Trump told reporters in Florida: ‘The answer is yes, I did.’
He also invited French President Emmanuel Macron, and then threatened him with tariffs when he declined.
The US president said: ‘I’ll put a 200% tariff on his wines and champagnes. And he’ll join. But he doesn’t have to join.’
Leaders are each being asked to contribute a billion US dollars (£740 million) to take a permanent seat on the board, according to several outlets.
Several nations, including Albania, Canada and Uzbekistan, have already indicated they plan to join the venture.
