US President Donald Trump has officially rescinded an invitation for Canada to participate in his newly established Board of Peace, marking the latest conflict between the two North American leaders.
The announcement was made through a post on Truth Social addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, formally stating that the invitation for Canada’s membership was being withdrawn, reports BBC.
While Trump did not provide a specific reason for this decision in his post, the move follows a period of public disagreement regarding the global order and the financial obligations of member nations.
The tension between the leaders escalated after Carney delivered a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he warned of a significant “rupture” in the international system led by the United States.
During his address, which received a standing ovation, Carney encouraged “middle powers” to collaborate to resist economic pressure from “greater powers”. Although Carney did not explicitly name the US president, Trump responded by claiming that Canada relies on the United States for its existence and should be more appreciative of the “freebies” it receives from its neighbor.
Carney later rejected this assertion during a speech in Quebec, stating that Canada thrives due to its own citizens rather than American support.
A significant practical disagreement also centered on the cost of participation, as Canada indicated it would not pay the $1 billion (£740 million) membership fee that Trump has set for permanent members.
The Board of Peace is described by the US as a new body for resolving international conflicts, but its proposed structure has drawn scrutiny.
The organization’s charter grants Trump broad decision-making powers as chairman for life and appears designed to take over functions typically handled by the United Nations.
Furthermore, while the board was initially expected to focus on reconstruction and ending the war between Israel and Hamas, the actual charter makes no mention of the Palestinian territory.
Currently, the White House reports that approximately 35 of the 60 invited nations have agreed to join the organization.
Confirmed members include countries such as Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt, Argentina, and Pakistan.
However, the board lacks participation from other major global powers, as no other permanent members of the UN Security Council, specifically the UK, France, Russia, or China, have committed to joining the body so far.
Although Carney had originally expressed a willingness to join the board on principle, the combination of financial disputes and diplomatic friction has now led to Canada’s formal exclusion from the group.
