Trump says he is withdrawing Canada’s invitation to Board of Peace

WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Jan 22 withdrew invitation for Canada to join his “Board of Peace” initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.

Mr Trump’s about-face follows

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech

at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he openly decried powerful nations using economic integration as weapons and tariffs as leverage.

“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,” Mr Trump wrote in a Truth Social post directed at Mr Carney.

Neither Mr Carney’s office nor the White House immediately responded to Reuters requests for comment on the evening of Jan 22.

Last week, Mr Carney’s office said he had been invited to serve on the board and planned to accept.

He received a rare standing ovation in Davos after the speech, in which he urged nations to accept the end of a rules-based global order.

Canada, which recently signed a trade deal with China, can show how “middle powers” might act together to avoid being victimised by American hegemony, he added.

Mr Trump retorted that

Canada “lives because of the United States”

, and told listeners in Davos that Mr Carney should be grateful for the US’ previous largesse.

“Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said, addressing Mr Carney directly.

The withdrawal of Canada’s invitation came hours after Mr Trump officially launched the board, which was initially meant to cement a Gaza ceasefire.

Permanent members must help fund the board with

a payment of US$1 billion (S$1.3 billion) each

, according to the US leader.

“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do,” he said in Switzerland on Jan 22. “And we’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations.”

The board’s establishment was endorsed by a UN Security Council resolution as part of Mr Trump’s Gaza peace plan, and UN spokesman Rolando Gomez said on Jan 22 that UN engagement with the board would only be in that context.

Member nations include Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey. Other US allies, such as Britain, France and Italy, have indicated they will not join for now. REUTERS