Trump fires back: Invitation withdrawn

U.S. President Donald Trump has today withdrawn the invitation he previously extended to Canada to join the Board of Peace, an initiative aimed at ending conflicts around the world. Trump changed his mind following a speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the World Economic Forum in Davos, in which Carney openly criticized major powers for using economic integration as a weapon and tariffs as an instrument of power.

"With this letter, the Board of Peace withdraws the invitation extended to you regarding Canada’s participation in what will be the most prestigious gathering of leaders to date," Trump wrote in a post on the Truth Social platform, addressing Carney. Neither the Canadian Prime Minister’s office nor the White House immediately responded to Reuters’ request for comment.

Last week, the Canadian Prime Minister’s office had announced that Carney had been invited to participate in the committee and planned to accept the invitation. His speech in Davos, in which he called on nations to embrace an end to the rules-based global order, was met with applause.

Canada, which recently signed a trade agreement with China, can demonstrate to the world how “middle powers” can act together to avoid the harm inflicted by U.S. hegemony, Carney added. Trump responded by claiming that Canada “lives thanks to the United States” and told attendees in Davos that Carney should be grateful for past American generosity.

"Remember that, Mark, next time you make statements," Trump added, speaking directly to the Canadian Prime Minister. The withdrawal of Canada’s invitation came just hours after Trump officially established the committee, which was originally intended to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

• Trump is left alone: Europe turns its back on him in Davos PHOTO

 

Permanent members of the committee will be required to contribute one billion dollars each to help fund its operations, Trump said.

"When we fully establish this committee, we will be able to do whatever we want," Trump stated yesterday in Switzerland, adding that the committee will operate "in cooperation with the United Nations."

The establishment of the committee was approved by a United Nations Security Council resolution as part of Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, and UN spokesperson Rolando Gomes said that the UN’s involvement with the Board of Peace will be limited strictly to that context.

Committee members include, among others, Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan, and Turkey. Other U.S. allies, such as the United Kingdom, France, and Italy, have indicated that they do not currently plan to join the initiative.