WASHINGTON, Jan 23 (ABC): United States President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew Canada’s invitation to join his proposed Board of Peace, following critical remarks by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Trump’s decision came after Carney used his Davos address at the World Economic Forum to criticise powerful nations for using economic integration as a political weapon and employing tariffs as leverage in global affairs.
In a post on Truth Social directed at Carney, Trump said the Board of Peace was rescinding its invitation to Canada’s participation, describing the body as what he called “the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled.”
Neither Carney’s office nor the White House immediately responded to requests for comment.
Only last week, Carney’s office had said the prime minister was invited to join the board and intended to accept. During his Davos speech, Carney received a standing ovation after urging countries to recognise what he described as the decline of a rules-based global order. He also said Canada, which has recently signed a trade agreement with China, could show how middle powers might cooperate to avoid being sidelined by US dominance.
Trump responded by saying Canada “lives because of the United States” and told audiences in Davos that Carney should be thankful for past US support. Addressing the Canadian leader directly, Trump said he should remember that point when making future statements.
The withdrawal of Canada’s invitation came just hours after Trump formally launched the Board of Peace, which was initially conceived to help solidify a ceasefire in Gaza. Trump has said permanent members of the board would be required to contribute $1 billion each to fund its operations.
“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do,” Trump said while in Switzerland, adding that the initiative would work in coordination with the United Nations.
The board’s creation was endorsed through a United Nations Security Council resolution tied to Trump’s Gaza peace plan. UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez said UN engagement with the board would be limited strictly to that context.
Countries named as members include Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan and Türkiye. Other US allies, such as Britain, France and Italy, have indicated they do not plan to join at this stage.