Don’t join the ‘Board of Peace’
Malta must not dignify Donald Trump’s empire-building by adding Malta to his list of favour-seeking satellites, says Richard Rubenstein
I could hardly believe my eyes when I read in the Times of Malta that Robert Abela had not ruled out joining Donald Trump’s misnamed ‘Board of Peace’.
Malta’s “national interests”, he suggested, might dictate a positive response to Trump’s invitation.
But it is impossible to understand what this means other than that the prime minister is concerned about some combination of threats and rewards emanating from the White House.
The ‘Board of Peace’ is recognised by virtually all sensible world leaders as a typical exercise in Trumpian megalomania and a throwback to imperial forms of rule, rather than a serious peace-building proposal.
The UN Security Council approved its creation in a moment of desperation in order to halt the horrendous violence being directed against the people of Gaza. But, in the light of day, one sees that it is little more than a bad joke.
The board’s charter grants virtually unlimited powers of appointment and action to Trump, empowers other colonial-style viceroys such as Bibi Netanyahu and Tony Blair to govern without Palestinian participation, and rewards the financiers and perpetrators of genocide with a warrant to govern the survivors.
The ‘Board of Peace’ is little more than a bad joke- Richard Rubenstein
Worse yet, contrary to Security Council wishes, Trump is now suggesting that it could become some sort of alternative to the UN, exercising imperial-style power in other conflict zones beyond its approved two-year time limit.
Please, Mr Prime Minister, do not give way to Trump’s Corleone-like threats and blandishments. “You have a nice little country there – it would be a shame if something happened to it.” Malta’s American friends, of whom I am proud to be one, urge you to do the right thing – right for Malta as well as consistent with the great traditions of the Labour Party and universal principles of peace and justice.
Do not dignify Trump’s empire-building by adding Malta to his list of favour-seeking satellites.
Richard Rubenstein is a university professor emeritus at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, Virginia, US.