U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly withdrawn Canada’s invitation to join his newly launched “Board of Peace,” escalating tensions with Ottawa after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized powerful nations for using trade and tariffs as geopolitical weapons at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
“Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post directed at Carney.
The reversal came just days after Carney’s office confirmed he had been invited to serve on the board and intended to accept.
Carney drew a rare standing ovation in Davos after urging countries to accept the end of a rules-based global order and arguing that “middle powers,” including Canada, could work together to avoid being “victimized by American hegemony.”
Canada recently signed a trade deal with China. Trump responded sharply, saying Canada “lives because of the United States,” and added, “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
The withdrawal came hours after Trump formally launched the board, initially designed to help cement a Gaza ceasefire. Permanent members are required to contribute $1 billion each, and Trump said, “Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do… in conjunction with the United Nations.”
Trump described the initiative as a landmark platform to institutionalize conflict resolution in partnership with world leaders and the United Nations.
“This is a very exciting day, long in the making. Countries just received their notice. Everybody wants to be a part of it,” Trump said, adding that the initiative would work “with many others, including the United Nations.”
The initiative has been endorsed by a U.N. Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, with current members including Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey, while allies such as Britain, France and Italy have declined to join for now.
