Trump withdraws Canada’s Board of Peace invitation after Davos clash
Jan. 22 (UPI) — President Donald Trump late Thursday announced he withdrew Canada’s invitation to join the U.S.-led Board of Peace, as relations between the longtime allies continue to deteriorate during his second term.
“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 said in a statement posted to his Truth Social media platform.
The note was addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Trump formally launched the Board of Peace initiative earlier Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. More than 50 world leaders reportedly received invitations, with about 25 joining the board, though additional countries are expected to follow.
The board was initially conceived to aid in the peace process in Gaza, though questions over whether it has larger ambitions have been raised by the absence of mention of the Palestinian enclave in its charter. Controversy also swirls over those who have been invited to join, including President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
Tensions between Trump and Carney spiked during Davos, beginning with Carney giving a 16-minute special address that attracted international attention for emphasizing that the era of a rules-based international order was coming to an end and was being replaced by a world of “great power rivalry” where “the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”
Carney said that Canada was among the first nations to “hear the wake-up call” that the old world was over and began to shift its strategic posture, and called on middle powers to come together, “because if we’re not at the table, we’re on the menu.”
Trump, speaking at Davos on Wednesday, hit back at Carney, accusing him of being ungrateful.
“They should be grateful to U.S., Canada. Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said.
“Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Carney then responded in a speech on Thursday.
“Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian,” he said.
“We choose to build a bright future worthy of the ground on which we stand. We choose Canada.”
Trump issued his statement hours later.
Canada and the United States have seen their relationship sour amid the second Trump administration.
Trump’s threats to annex Canada and make it the 51st state and his imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods, which ignited a trade war, prompted Carney to foster relations with Europe and other nations while distancing itself from the United States.
Carney has previously said that Trump’s stance toward Ottawa is a “betrayal” and his tariffs a “direct attack” on Canada, and has repeatedly signaled that he will seek to lessen Canada’s dependency on Washington.
Canada had indicated a willingness to join, but said it would not pay the $1 billion Trump is requesting as a fee.
While many so-called middle powers have joined the board, notable U.S. allies and Western nations, including France, Britain and Germany, have either declined to join or are uncommitted.