Italy cannot join the board under the constitution because power would be held by one leader above other members, the minister says.
Published on February 7, 2026
Italy says it is unable to join US President Donald Trump’s “peace council” because of “constitutional limitations” in the latest blow to the self-styled “international peacekeeping body”.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told the ANSA news agency on Saturday that the conflict between Italy’s constitution and the peace council’s charter was “absolute from a legal point of view”, but that his country would be “always available to discuss peace initiatives”.
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Italy joins several European countries – including France, Germany and the United Kingdom – that will not join the controversial circle, which was Greenlight Before the United Nations expanded its pursuit of Gaza as a transitional governing body for Gaza last year Sweeping Charter Which doesn’t mention the war-torn Palestinian enclave.
Despite this, Italy’s decision comes A close relationship Between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Trump of the Board of Peace amid growing concerns about global conflict mediators – launched Last month, the US president played aggressively in Davos, Switzerland Greenland – Designed to accommodate the United Nations.
Tajani pointed to Article 11 of the Italian constitution, which prevents the country from joining associations unless there are “conditions of equality with other states,” which would not be the case under the charter naming Trump. A veto-wielding president Acting as the final authority on its interpretation.
However, speaking after a “very positive” meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Vice President JD Vance Winter Olympics In Milan on Friday, the foreign minister said Italy was “ready to play our part in Gaza by training the police”.
Tajani’s comments came as the board demanded that members pay $1 billion for a permanent seat, which has been criticized as essentially a “pay to play” version of the UN, temporarily preparing for him. First meeting on February 19 in Washington, DC.
The gathering comes a day after a planned meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On Saturday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, a key Trump ally, said he would travel to Washington for the board’s first meeting “in two weeks.”
Last month, Trump invited about 60 countries to join the board. At the time of reporting, its official website listed 26 countries that had joined the Gaza mediator, including Qatar and Egypt.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Trump’s plans last month, saying “the fundamental responsibility for international peace and security rests with the United Nations, with the Security Council.”