US revokes Canada's invitation to join Board of Peace

US President Donald Trump withdrew an 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, 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," President 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.

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

Mr Carney 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 United States’ ⁠previous largesse.

"Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements," he added, addressing Mr Carney directly.

In response, Mr Carney rejected Mr Trump's claim, saying "Canada doesn't live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian".

He made the remarks in a national address in Quebec City ahead of a new legislative session, even as he acknowledged the "remarkable partnership" between the two nations.

During his speech, which was aimed at a domestic audience, Mr Carney said that Canada should serve as a model in an era of "democratic decline".

"Canada can't solve all the world's problems, but we can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isn't destined to be warped towards authoritarianism and exclusion," he said.

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 $1 billion (€850 million) each, according to President Trump.

"Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do," Mr Trump said ⁠in Switzerland yesterday.

"And we'll do it in conjunction with the United Nations," he added.

The board's establishment was endorsed by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Mr Trump's Gaza peace plan, and UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez said 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.

EU has 'serious doubts' about Trump's 'Board of Peace'

Meanwhile, European leaders expressed serious doubts about the scope of President Trump's 'Board of Peace' but are ready to work with the United States and the newly founded body in Gaza, President of the European Council Antonio 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," he added.

"We are ready to work together with the US on the implementation of the comprehensive Peace Plan for Gaza, with a Board of Peace carrying out its mission as a transitional administration," Mr Costa said.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters after the summit that his country had "declined" the invitation to participate in the body.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade said that she does not see a way in which Ireland can join the 'Board of Peace' if its remit is widened beyond delivering peace in Gaza.

Helen McEntee said Ireland could not "join a structure" that seeks to "mimic or undermine" the United Nations Security Council.

Yesterday, Tánaiste Simon Harris said he cannot see a scenario where Ireland can participate in Mr Trump's Board of Peace.

"The Board of Peace, as it was voted for in the UN Security Council, was to focus solely on Gaza, on the next stages of the peace plan, rebuilding Gaza, but what has become very clear and apparent is that it has a much wider remit," she said.

"We have been asking for clarifications on whether or not the remit could focus solely on Gaza, so if that doesn't change, I think the Tánaiste is right, we don't see a way in which we can join this, we cannot join a structure that essentially will try to mimic or undermine the UN Security Council."

Additional reporting by AFP, Laura Fletcher