French President Emmanuel Macron and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney in Paris on January 6, 2026.
| Photo Credit: Reuters
France “does not intend to answer favourably” to an invitation to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace”, a source close to President Emmanuel Macron told AFP on Monday (January 19, 2026).
The board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza, but the charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.
Also Read: The case for a board of peace and sustainable security
Its charter “goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza”, the source close to the French President said.
“It raises major questions, particularly regarding respect for the principles and structure of the United Nations, which under no circumstances can be called into question,” they added.
France is a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council.
Earlier on Monday (January 19), the French Foreign Ministry issued a statement reiterating the country’s commitment to the U.N.
“This remains the keystone of effective multilateralism, where international law, the sovereign equality of states, and the peaceful settlement of disputes prevail over arbitrariness, power politics and war,” it said.
The Ministry added it was reviewing the proposed legal framework of the board with its partners, raising concern that the “project extends beyond the situation in Gaza”.
The source close to the French President, however, noted that France “remains fully committed to a ceasefire in Gaza and to a credible political horizon for Palestinians and Israelis”.
Canada will not pay for seat
Meanwhile, Canada will not pay to be on the board, a government source told AFP Monday (January 19, 2026), after Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated he would accept an invitation to join the body.
“Canada will not pay for a seat on the board, nor has that been requested of Canada at this time,” the government source said.
Member countries, represented on the board by their Head of State or Government, would be allowed to join for three years or longer if they paid more than $1 billion in cash within the first year, the charter says.
“The proposed Charter is still a document under discussion, and many terms and conditions are still being worked out,” the government source further said.
The source added that Mr. Carney had initially indicated he would join the board “because it is important to have a seat at the table to shape this process from within”.
Published – January 19, 2026 10:44 pm IST
