WARSAW

Poland’s foreign minister on Friday raised public doubts about Warsaw joining the controversial “Board of Peace” initiative launched by US President Donald Trump.

Speaking in Washington, Radoslaw Sikorski addressed Poland’s possible role in the new multinational body, which was announced at last month’s World Economic Forum and is intended to oversee post-conflict reconstruction, especially in the Gaza Strip.

Under the proposal, permanent member states would be expected to contribute $1 billion each to a reconstruction fund controlled by the board.

Sikorski said such a levy should not be assumed without clear justification. “I want to hear why the Polish taxpayer should rebuild Gaza, which we didn’t destroy,” Sikorski told a press briefing, questioning both the cost and logic of Poland’s possible participation.

He said that if Warsaw were to support reconstruction efforts, there are existing humanitarian and development budgets that could be used for this.

Sikorski also expressed concerns over the board’s legal status and its operational framework beyond the current US administration, calling its structure “very unusual” and saying it is unclear what role the body or its leader would play after Trump leaves office.

Sikorski’s remarks came in response to moves by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, who has signaled that Warsaw may discuss the invitation at a Feb. 11 National Security Council meeting.

The debate over the Board of Peace has already stirred political debate in Warsaw, with Sikorski releasing results of an online poll showing mixed public sentiment on whether Poland should participate or shoulder financial commitments tied to Gaza’s reconstruction.

The controversy heated up this week with a public diplomatic spat between the US ambassador to Poland and a government minister. The ambassador expressed “disappointment” at what he described as Warsaw’s lack of enthusiasm for endorsing Trump’s bid for the Nobel Peace Prize, a move he suggested would have demonstrated solidarity.