Donald Trump, US President, has withdrawn an invitation for Canada to join his newly created Board of Peace, deepening a public rift between Washington and Ottawa and raising fresh questions about the credibility of the new body.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Thursday, Trump said the board was rescinding its offer to Canada without giving a clear reason.
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“Please let this letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining,” Trump wrote, addressing Prime Minister Mark Carney directly.
Canada had earlier indicated it was open to joining the board in principle, but would not pay the proposed $1bn membership fee that Trump says permanent members will be required to contribute. Ottawa’s position appears to have irritated the White House, although Trump did not explicitly cite the fee dispute in his post.
Carney’s office did not immediately respond to the withdrawal. The prime minister had said last week that he would consider participation, while making clear that Canada would not finance the body on Trump’s terms.
The Board of Peace is being promoted by the US administration as a new international organisation aimed at resolving major global conflicts. It gives Trump wide decision-making powers as chairman and was initially linked to efforts to end the war in Gaza and oversee post war reconstruction.
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European leaders have reacted cautiously. Antonio Costa, European Council president, said there were serious doubts about the scope and structure of the board but added that the EU was willing to engage with it on Gaza-related issues, according to the BBC.
The decision to revoke Canada’s invitation came after a sharp exchange between Trump and Carney following speeches at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Carney won a standing ovation earlier this week after warning of a possible “rupture” in the US-led global order and urging so-called middle powers to cooperate in the face of economic pressure from larger states. He did not mention Trump by name.
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A day later, Trump responded from the same forum, accusing Canada of taking advantage of the United States.
“Canada gets a lot of freebies from the US, and it should be grateful,” Trump said. “Canada lives because of the United States,” he added, addressing Carney directly.
Back in Canada, the prime minister pushed back. Speaking at an event in Quebec on Thursday, Carney rejected Trump’s claim outright.
“Canada does not live because of the United States,” he said. “Canada thrives because we are Canadians.”
