Trump Withdraws Canada’s Invitation to Board of Peace After Carney’s Davos Speech

In a fresh escalation of diplomatic tensions between Washington and Ottawa, US President Donald Trump on Thursday revoked Canada’s invitation to join the newly announced Board of Peace — an initiative designed to help resolve international conflicts. The decision follows pointed remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his high-profile speech at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos.

Trump’s move comes less than a week after Carney’s office confirmed that Canada had received an invitation to join the board and that the prime minister intended to accept it. The abrupt reversal underscores how quickly geopolitical disagreements can reshape international cooperation.

During his Davos address, Carney openly criticized powerful nations for using tariffs as instruments of pressure and economic integration as a geopolitical weapon. Without naming the United States directly, his remarks were widely interpreted as a rebuke of Washington’s trade policies under the Trump administration.

Shortly after, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to announce the withdrawal of Canada’s invitation in unusually blunt language.

“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 wrote, directly addressing Carney.

Requests for comment from Reuters late Thursday went unanswered by both the White House and the Canadian prime minister’s office, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the diplomatic fallout.

Just days earlier, Carney’s office had confirmed that the invitation was genuine and that Canada planned to take part in the initiative. The Board of Peace was unveiled by Trump as a mechanism aimed initially at reinforcing a ceasefire in Gaza before expanding its scope to other global conflicts.

Carney’s Davos speech drew significant international attention. He received a rare standing ovation after urging global leaders to acknowledge what he described as the decline of the traditional rules-based international order.

The Canadian prime minister also positioned Canada as a potential model for “middle powers,” suggesting that countries outside the world’s major superpower blocs could work together to avoid becoming casualties of what he called American economic dominance. He pointed to Canada’s recent trade agreement with china as evidence of this alternative approach.

Trump responded sharply to those remarks, asserting that Canada’s prosperity depends heavily on its relationship with the United States. Addressing Davos attendees, he said Canada “lives because of the United States” and suggested that Carney should show greater appreciation for past American support.

“Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” Trump added, addressing the Canadian leader directly.

Canada’s invitation was withdrawn just hours after Trump formally announced the creation of the Board of Peace. According to Trump, permanent members of the board are expected to contribute USD 1 billion each toward its funding.

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

However, the United Nations has been cautious in its response. UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez clarified on Thursday that the organization would only engage with the board in relation to Trump’s Gaza peace proposal, which included a resolution endorsing the board’s establishment.

Several countries have already signaled their participation in the initiative, including Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan, and Turkey. At the same time, key US allies such as France, Italy, and Britain have indicated that they do not plan to join the Board of Peace at this stage.

Trump’s decision to revoke Canada’s invitation highlights the fragile nature of diplomatic alliances in an era marked by economic nationalism, shifting global power dynamics, and increasingly personalized international politics.