Donald Trump is now focused on pushing his idea of a new global group called the Board of Peace. He wants major Western countries to accept it and sign on. But the more details come out, the more confused and uneasy Europe seems to be. Some leaders have already made it clear they want no part of it.
Trump was recently told that French President Emmanuel Macron plans to stay out. Trump did not take that well. He responded by threatening a 200% tariff on French wine. Once again, diplomacy turned into a trade threat.
Trump’s Board of Peace Faces European Pushback
Trump has been openly pressuring NATO allies for weeks. He has talked about forcing Denmark and even the wider EU to hand over Greenland. That single issue has badly damaged Europe’s trust in him.
This Thursday, world leaders are set to meet in Davos. Trump wants the full Board of Peace agreement finalized there. He wants every NATO country on board. He wants signatures. He wants commitment.
But the conditions are raising alarms. Trump is reportedly asking each country to pay $1 billion to join. Even more concerning, the draft charter would make Trump the final decision-maker. Many European leaders are stunned. Some now believe he already holds that power, as he has been sharing private messages from leaders asking him to rethink Greenland.
Inviting Putin Deepens the Crisis
Trump has also confirmed plans to invite Russian President Vladimir Putin to the board. This comes while the war in Ukraine is still ongoing. For many European leaders, this is a deal breaker. They see Putin as a war criminal. Sitting beside him in the name of peace feels impossible.
Even Israel has voiced concern. The longtime US ally fears that regional security decisions could involve Russia. Meanwhile, the Kremlin appears pleased with the idea.
During a recent C-SPAN interview, Trump confirmed that Putin would be invited. When asked about Macron refusing to join, Trump lashed out. He claimed nobody wanted Macron anyway. He then repeated his threat of a 200% wine tariff.
Online reactions were mixed. Some people joked about Americans losing access to good wine. Others warned that Trump might be building a new global power bloc in plain sight. One user asked a simple question. If Trump did not want Macron involved, why invite him at all?
There is no clear legal path for Trump to enforce such a wine tariff right now. Still, Secretary Marco Rubio has said Trump usually follows through on his threats. Whether it happens or not, the damage is already done.
The relationship between Europe and the US is now at a breaking point. European leaders face a hard choice. Give in to Trump’s demands, including helping repair Putin’s image, or risk a serious fracture within NATO. Either way, trust is at its lowest level in decades.
