Trump Revokes Canada’s Invitation to Join ‘Board of Peace’
US President Donald Trump has withdrawn Canada’s invitation to join his newly established “Board of Peace” following rising tensions between the two North American neighbours. The announcement, made in a post on Truth Social, marks the latest spat in a series of disagreements between Ottawa and Washington.
The ‘Board of Peace,’ presented by Trump as an international body designed to resolve global conflicts, has faced widespread criticism and scepticism, particularly from European leaders. However, Trump’s move to revoke Canada’s invitation came shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, which reportedly irked the US president.
Trump’s post, directed to Carney, stated, ‘Please let this letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining.’ While no specific reason was provided for the withdrawal, the timing appears to be linked to Carney’s recent comments, which subtly critiqued the US-led global order.
Carney had previously indicated Canada’s interest in joining the board, although without paying the $1 billion (£740 million) membership fee that Trump has set for permanent members. The Canadian government’s reluctance to finance the board appears to have been a key factor in the fallout.
The Board of Peace was initially envisioned to help address the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, with Trump positioned as the chairman for life. However, its charter has been criticised for lacking clear references to Palestinian territories and for attempting to replace the United Nations in some areas of conflict resolution.
Read also: Saudi UAE tensions spill into open as rival ambitions collide across the region
Despite Canada’s exclusion, the board has gained some international traction, with 35 countries, including Argentina, Belarus, and Saudi Arabia, already committed to participation. Notably, major UN Security Council members, such as China, France, Russia, and the UK, have yet to join, with the UK voicing concerns over Russia’s inclusion due to its involvement in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
European leaders, including European Council President Antonio Costa, have expressed doubts over the board’s governance and compatibility with international law, particularly the UN Charter. However, Costa indicated that the EU was willing to cooperate with the US on peace efforts in Gaza, even if it did not support the board’s broader ambitions.
The tensions between Trump and Carney escalated following remarks made by the Canadian Prime Minister at the World Economic Forum, where he urged smaller nations to unite against economic pressure from more powerful states. Although Carney did not name Trump directly, his speech seemed to prompt a response from the US president, who later told the Davos gathering that Canada ‘should be grateful’ for the US’s support, adding, ‘Canada lives because of the United States.’
In turn, Carney responded during a speech in Quebec, asserting, ‘Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians,’ marking a direct rebuttal to Trump’s comments.
