Italy has declined to join U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace”, citing constitutional restrictions, in another setback for the new international body that is due to hold its first meeting in Washington later this month.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Saturday that Italy could not sign on to the initiative because its structure conflicts with the country’s constitution. Speaking to the ANSA news agency, Tajani said the legal obstacles were “insurmountable”, although Italy remained open to cooperating on peace efforts in other ways.
“From a legal standpoint, it is not possible for us to adhere to this organisation,” Tajani said, adding that Italy would always be willing to take part in discussions aimed at ending conflicts.
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Tajani said Article 11 of the Italian constitution prevents the country from joining international organisations unless all states are treated equally under the rules. He said the charter of the Board of Peace does not meet that requirement because it gives Trump, as chairman, final authority over how the body’s rules are interpreted and grants him veto power.
Italy’s decision places it alongside several other major European countries that have not joined the board, including France, Germany, and the United Kingdom. None of those governments have formally signed up to the initiative.
The Board of Peace was launched last month in Davos, Switzerland, during the World Economic Forum. It was first discussed last year at the United Nations as a transitional body to help oversee post-war governance in Gaza. Since then, its remit has expanded under a new charter that does not specifically mention Gaza and instead sets out a broader role in global conflict mediation.
Trump invited about 60 countries to join the board. As of this week, its official website lists 26 members, including Qatar and Egypt, both of which have been involved in mediation efforts related to the Gaza war.
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The board is expected to hold its first meeting in Washington, D.C., on February 19, one day after a scheduled meeting between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The agenda for the meeting has not been publicly released.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Saturday that he would travel to Washington for the first meeting of the board “in two weeks”. Orban is one of Trump’s closest political allies in Europe.
Reports have said the board is asking member countries to pay $1 billion for a permanent seat, drawing criticism from some diplomats and officials who have compared it to a “pay-to-play” model.
Despite declining to join, Tajani said Italy was ready to contribute to international efforts in other ways. After meeting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Vice President JD Vance on the sidelines of the Winter Olympics in Milan on Friday, Tajani said Italy would be prepared to assist with training police forces in Gaza as part of post-conflict stabilisation efforts.
Italy’s position is notable because of the close relationship between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Trump. Meloni has maintained strong ties with the U.S. president, but Tajani said constitutional limits left no room for Italy to formally participate in the board.
The United Nations has voiced concerns about the initiative. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said last month that responsibility for international peace and security lies with the UN and its Security Council.
“The basic responsibility for international peace and security lies with the United Nations,” Guterres said in response to Trump’s plans.
The Board of Peace’s first meeting comes as fighting continues in Gaza and diplomatic efforts are ongoing to secure a lasting ceasefire and address post-war governance in the territory.