THE latest move by United States President Mr. Donald Trump to weave together a Board of Peace -- particularly to work out a Gaza Peace Plan as its first assignment -- may find enough takers in the international arena, though every invited nation appears to be taking a close look at the proposal before accepting it. Importantly, the United Nations (UN), too, has stated that it has often worked alongside other global organisations in its peace bids. Thus, the stage may appear set for the new initiative, all right. Yet, good enough questions are going to linger in every mind -- since it has been pushed by the US and its haughty President. Many nations would be on the board, all right, but many may take things easy since major question-marks would keep hanging low on the idea. One of those questions would be about the intent behind the proposal -- whether the US President wishes to create an alternative to the UN and divide the world opinion into camps.

 

It also seems to suggest that the US-sponsored Board of Peace could also be seen as an attempt to create a new world order led by Washington. For its part, India appears to be studying the invitation to join the Board -- cautious as usual before taking a step or a plunge. Doubts often well up in global minds when any proposal comes mainly from Mr. Donald Trump -- who is acting like a bull in china shop in his second tenure at the White House, brandishing American hegemony, creating tariff uncalled for and illogical barriers, making moves to grab land stating that he is protecting the place from Russian and Chinese threats. Though the idea behind the proposed Board of Peace may have some substance and may work well away from the UN’s staid approach, most nations are going to take their time saying ‘yes’ to Mr. Trump’s invitation. In the past couple of months, Mr. Trump has given a fairly clear idea about what he wishes to do with the current global scenario.

 

He has withdrawn the US from many global bodies, or has suspended altogether American financial props, or has reduced the US share in global collections. Some of these moves may suggest an agreement with the Indian view that the United Nations needs a massive reforms dose to make it relevant to current times. The difference, however, is that India does not wish to proceed in an iconoclastic manner -- which does not go well with the current American style. It is obvious that Mr. Trump’s idea behind the Board of Peace will not remain restricted only to Gaza Peace Plan -- and he would want to take it further to cover other parts of his global strategy (which may include his intentions on Greenland). Sensing such possibilities, many nations would take a cautious approach to joining the new initiative. For, no matter his orchestration, very few tend to take Mr. Trump by face-value.

 

Every nation also knows that Mr. Trump carries many highly personalised ambitions that run counter to international ethos. Hence the trepidation about the Board of Peace. This idea has come up almost all of a sudden -- with only a perfunctory hint some time earlier. The constitution of the actual apparatus may take its own time, all right, but Mr. Donald Trump is a man in hurry (for reasons only he would know). He appears to have little idea of what kind of patience is required for diplomatic moves to mature. This is certainly surprising when the person involved is the President of the United States. He should know -- so would everybody think. That is another reason why most nations would take their own sweet time to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the Trump idea. The American influence may win some membership, all right, but what matters most in such moves is relationship. Against such a complex background, the proposal of Board of Peace would be a move to be watched with care and caution and interest in the coming times. For, it can have both -- a potential to be a game-changer, or a propensity to be a game-buster.