Bulgaria has joined US President Donald Trump’s newly established Board of Peace, becoming one of only two European Union (EU) members to sign up to the initiative as major Western powers declined to participate.
The council was launched on January 22 on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, where Trump said the body could become “one of the most significant ever created”. Outgoing Bulgarian Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov attended the ceremony and signed the charter, according to a government statement.
Hungary is the only other EU country to have formally endorsed the initiative so far. France, Germany, the UK and Ukraine opted out, while Russia is still considering its position, President Vladimir Putin said.
The Board of Peace – dubbed “UN-2” for its ambition to take on functions similar to those of the United Nations – will be led by Trump and his associates. Bulgaria will not be required to make a $1bn financial contribution, only signing up for an initial three years, according to local media reports.
Outgoing President Rumen Radev had earlier received an invitation from Trump but responded cautiously. On January 21, the Council of Ministers adopted a “confidential act” that officials said was likely related to joining the council.
Alongside Bulgaria, 18 other countries have joined, including Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Mongolia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Uzbekistan.
Trump addressed attendees in Davos, including Zhelyazkov, praising the council as a force for global stability. On stage at the launch were world leaders including Zhelyazkov, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.
Around 60 governments were invited to join the council, according to Germany’s DPA news agency, but few of Washington’s Western allies have publicly expressed willingness to participate, and some have expressed public criticism.
Bulgaria’s decision comes a day after its government said it would propose to parliament the approval of a €178mn deal to acquire a US-made coastal anti-ship missile system for its navy, BTA reported.
Outgoing Defence Minister Atanas Zapryanov said the purchase would enhance Bulgaria’s deterrence and defence capabilities in the Black Sea and improve interoperability with NATO allies.
The timing of the defence deal and Bulgaria’s endorsement of the Peace Council underscores Sofia’s efforts to strengthen ties with Washington, even as several EU partners keep their distance from Trump’s latest initiative.
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