US President Donald Trump, in a scathing remark to French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on French wines and champagne in response to Paris's refusal to join the board of peace.
When asked to respond on French President's refusal to join the board, he said, "Well, nobody wants him because he’s going to be out of office very soon." He further said, "I will impose a 200 per cent tariff on French wines and champagnes, and Macron will join the board of peace."
Also read: Trump’s 10% tariffs: Macron hits back at ‘unacceptable’ threats; Swedish PM warns, EU ‘will not be blackmailed’Trump also shared a screenshot of a message sent by Macron to the US President, where the French President proposed setting up a G7 meeting and inviting Ukraine to the meeting, as well as Denmark, to discuss disagreements over Greenland.
"We are totally in line on Syria. We can do great things on Iran. I do not understand what you are doing in Greenland," Macron's text read. Further proposing a proper meeting to reach a unanimity, Macron said, "I can set up a G7 meeting after Davos in Paris on Thursday afternoon. I can invite the Ukrainians, the Danish, the Syrians and the Russians in the margins."
He added, "Let us have dinner together in Paris on Thursday before you go back to the US."
Reacting to Trump's comments on wine tariffs, French President Macron said, "Tariff threats to change our foreign policy are unacceptable and ineffective", Reuters reported, quoting sources close to Macron.
Following shortly after, Trump also shared a private text from Nato's secretary general, Mark Rutte, as Rutte shares his plans about media engagement in Davos and expresses his "commitment to find a way forward" on the Greenland bid.
"Mr President, dear Donald - what you accomplished in Syria today is incredible," Rutte writes, "I will use my media engagements in Davos to highlight your work there, in Gaza, and in Ukraine. I am committed to finding a way forward on Greenland."
Which countries have been invited?Trump has been sending invites to multiple countries to come on board with his plan to join the board of peace, a US-backed plan aimed at ending the war in the Palestinian territory. With India, Pakistan, Russia and many other countries invited to join the board, the group is being positioned as a new international peacekeeping body.
Also read: France’s Macron urges trade 'bazooka' action against US tariffs; seeks activation of EU anti-coercion instrumentThe White House has confirmed a long list of countries to which it extended the invitation to join the board. Apart from that, there have been a lot of leaders who also confirmed to have received the invite.
Countries that received the invite, as confirmed by the White House:
- Russia
- Canada
- Turkey
- Egypt
- Paraguay
- Argentina
- Albania
- India
- Jordan
- Greece
- Cyprus
- Pakistan
- Hungary
Apart from the list confirmed by the White House, leaders from many other countries have also confirmed having received the invitation. This includes Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Romanian President Nicusor Dan.
Key members board of peaceWith US President Trump as the chairman of the board, the 'founding executive council' forms the base of the council, "composed of leaders with experience across diplomacy, development, infrastructure, and economic strategy," as per the statement by the White House.
The members shall be carrying the burden to set the strategic vision, with chairman Trump retaining the veto power. Each member is assigned a defined portfolio crucial to the stabilisation of Gaza
The appointed members include:
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio
- US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff
- Jared Kushner
- Billionaire businessman Marc Rowan
- Ajay Banga
- Former British PM Tony Blair
- Robert Gabriel Jr
The board has been proposed by Trump to "promote stability, restore dependable and lawful governance, and secure enduring peace in areas affected or threatened by conflict."