U.S. President Donald Trump has withdrawn Canada’s invitation to join his newly launched “Board of Peace,” an initiative he says is designed to resolve global conflicts and was initially linked to consolidating a ceasefire in Gaza. The decision came just days after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he openly criticized powerful states for using economic integration, trade, and tariffs as tools of coercion.
Carney argued that the era of a rules-based global order is ending and called on middle powers to cooperate in order to avoid domination by major powers. His remarks, which received a rare standing ovation in Davos, were widely interpreted as a direct critique of U.S. economic and geopolitical behavior. Shortly after, Trump announced the withdrawal of Canada’s invitation in a Truth Social post, praising the board as “the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled.”
Trump also responded personally to Carney’s comments, stating that Canada “lives because of the United States” and suggesting the Canadian leader should be more grateful for past U.S. support. Neither the White House nor Carney’s office immediately commented following the revocation.
The episode highlights growing strains in U.S.–Canada relations, particularly over trade policy, economic sovereignty, and Canada’s recent efforts to diversify its economic partnerships, including a new trade deal with China. It also underscores a broader global debate over the use of economic tools such as tariffs and sanctions—as instruments of geopolitical pressure.
More broadly, the public and abrupt nature of the decision raises questions about the credibility and durability of Trump’s Board of Peace initiative. While the board has received formal endorsement through a U.N. Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s Gaza peace plan, Trump’s statements suggesting the board could “do pretty much whatever we want” have fueled concerns about its governance, purpose, and alignment with existing multilateral norms.
The future composition of the Board of Peace remains uncertain. Permanent members are required to contribute $1 billion each, a condition that may limit participation. While countries such as Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan, and Turkey have joined, several key U.S. allies, including Britain, France, and Italy, have indicated they will not participate for now.
Canada’s next move will be closely watched, particularly whether Carney responds publicly or doubles down on his critique of economic coercion. Meanwhile, the United Nations has emphasized that its engagement with the board will remain narrowly confined to the Gaza context, signaling institutional caution. The incident may further complicate Trump’s efforts to position the board as a central platform for global peace-making and could deepen skepticism among allies about U.S.-led diplomatic initiatives under his leadership.
With information from Reuters,
