Rome, Feb. 18 (SANA) The Vatican said it will not participate in the Board of Peace established by U.S. President Donald Trump, citing the need for further clarification regarding the Board’s mandate and functions.
According to Agence France-Presse, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin told reporters Tuesday evening, following meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, that the Holy See’s diplomatic role differs from that of other states.
Parolin said Italy will attend the inaugural meeting of the Board of Peace in Washington as an observer, noting the need for clarification on several points, including the primary role of the United Nations in managing international crises.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended Rome’s observer participation, saying that absence from discussions on Mediterranean peace, security and stability would be politically and constitutionally inconsistent.
Several major European powers, including France, Germany and the United Kingdom, have declined to join the Board of Peace. The European Union confirmed it will attend the upcoming meeting, noting that participation does not imply formal membership.
The Board of Peace, first proposed by Trump in September to support peace in Gaza and later expanded to address other global conflicts, was officially launched on Jan. 22 at the World Economic Forum in Davos, with 26 countries joining. Its first meeting in Washington will include a donors’ conference focused on Gaza reconstruction.
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