WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has withdrawn an invitation for Canada to join his newly constituted Board of Peace in what appeared to be a retaliatory move following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum.”Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining,” Trump said on Truth Social in a post addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, who made headlines this week when he warned of a “rupture” in the US-led global order.Canada had indicated that while it would not pay to be on the board, it would join.Trump did not give a reason why he had decided to revoke Canada’s offer.The withdrawal decision came after Carney appeared to irk Trump with a speech that won a rare standing ovation this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.The prime minister urged other “middle powers” to band together in the face of economic coercion by “greater powers”, although he did not mention the US president by name.A day later Trump told the gathering in the Swiss Alpine resort that Canada gets many “freebies” from the US and it “should be grateful”.”Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”On Thursday, Carney swiped back at Trump as he delivered another speech back on home turf.Speaking in Quebec, he said: “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians.”The new peace board was initially envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, with Trump as chairman, but it has morphed into something far more ambitious.But its proposed charter does not mention the Palestinian territory and appears to be designed to supplant functions of the UN. Trump would be chairman for life.The board’s establishment was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, and UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez said that UN engagement with the board would only be in that context.The board, which gives Trump wide decision-making powers as chairman, is being billed by the US as a new international organization for resolving conflicts.Some 60 nations have been invited to join the board and about 35 have already signed up, according to the White House.But none of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council — China, France, Russia, and the UK — have committed to participation so far.The UK has expressed concerns about the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces are fighting in Ukraine after invading in 2022. France said the charter as it currently stood was “incompatible” with its international commitments, especially its UN membership.European Council president Antonio Costa said European leaders have doubts about the scope of the board, but were ready to work with the US and the newly founded body in Gaza.Speaking on Friday after an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, Costa said, “We have serious doubts about a number of elements in the charter of the Board of Peace related to its scope, its governance and its compatibility with the UN Charter.”After the EU leaders’ summit, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters that his country had “declined” the invitation to participate in the body. — AgenciesWASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump has withdrawn an invitation for Canada to join his newly constituted Board of Peace in what appeared to be a retaliatory move following Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum.”Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining,” Trump said on Truth Social in a post addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, who made headlines this week when he warned of a “rupture” in the US-led global order.Canada had indicated that while it would not pay to be on the board, it would join.Trump did not give a reason why he had decided to revoke Canada’s offer.The withdrawal decision came after Carney appeared to irk Trump with a speech that won a rare standing ovation this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos.The prime minister urged other “middle powers” to band together in the face of economic coercion by “greater powers”, although he did not mention the US president by name.A day later Trump told the gathering in the Swiss Alpine resort that Canada gets many “freebies” from the US and it “should be grateful”.”Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”On Thursday, Carney swiped back at Trump as he delivered another speech back on home turf.Speaking in Quebec, he said: “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians.”The new peace board was initially envisioned as a small group of world leaders overseeing the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire, with Trump as chairman, but it has morphed into something far more ambitious.But its proposed charter does not mention the Palestinian territory and appears to be designed to supplant functions of the UN. Trump would be chairman for life.The board’s establishment was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, and UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez said that UN engagement with the board would only be in that context.The board, which gives Trump wide decision-making powers as chairman, is being billed by the US as a new international organization for resolving conflicts.Some 60 nations have been invited to join the board and about 35 have already signed up, according to the White House.But none of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council — China, France, Russia, and the UK — have committed to participation so far.The UK has expressed concerns about the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose forces are fighting in Ukraine after invading in 2022. France said the charter as it currently stood was “incompatible” with its international commitments, especially its UN membership.European Council president Antonio Costa said European leaders have doubts about the scope of the board, but were ready to work with the US and the newly founded body in Gaza.Speaking on Friday after an EU leaders’ summit in Brussels, Costa said, “We have serious doubts about a number of elements in the charter of the Board of Peace related to its scope, its governance and its compatibility with the UN Charter.”After the EU leaders’ summit, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters that his country had “declined” the invitation to participate in the body. — Agencies
Trump withdraws Canada's invitation to join his Board of Peace
