US President Trump removes Canada from Gaza 'Board of Peace'

Washington (Web Desk/Agencies): US President Donald Trump on Thursday rescinded an invitation that would have allowed Canada to take part in his newly created “Board of Peace,” an initiative he says is designed to tackle major global conflicts.

The reversal came shortly after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered remarks at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, where he criticized the practice of powerful countries using trade ties as political tools and imposing tariffs as a form of pressure.

In a post on Truth Social addressed directly to Carney, Trump announced the decision in characteristically emphatic 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,” he wrote.

As of Thursday evening, neither Carney’s office nor the White House had responded to requests from Reuters for comment. Just a week earlier, Carney’s team had confirmed that he had been invited to join the board and intended to accept the offer.

Carney had drawn notable applause in Davos, including a standing ovation, after arguing that the era of a stable, rules-based global order was fading.

He suggested that countries like Canada could work with other “middle powers” to avoid being pushed around by dominant nations, particularly the United States. Canada recently finalized a trade agreement with China, a move Carney framed as part of a broader strategy for such cooperation.

Trump fired back in his own remarks in Davos, saying Canada’s prosperity depends heavily on the United States and that Carney should show more appreciation for past American support.

“Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” Trump said, addressing the Canadian leader by name.

The decision to withdraw Canada’s invitation came only hours after Trump formally unveiled the Board of Peace, which he initially promoted as a mechanism to help secure and maintain a ceasefire in Gaza.

According to Trump, countries granted permanent seats on the board would be required to contribute $1 billion each to help fund its activities.

“Once this board is completely formed, we can do pretty much whatever we want to do,” Trump said in Switzerland on Thursday, adding that its work would be carried out in coordination with the United Nations.

The board’s creation received backing through a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution tied to Trump’s Gaza peace proposal.

However, UN spokesperson Rolando Gomez clarified on Thursday that any UN involvement would be limited strictly to matters connected with that specific framework.

So far, the countries listed as members include Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey. Several traditional US allies — among them the United Kingdom (UK), France and Italy — have signaled that they do not plan to participate at this stage.