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U.S. President Donald Trump has withdrawn Canada's invitation to join his newly created Board of Peace, escalating tensions between Washington and Ottawa following a sharp exchange between Trump and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
In a post on Truth Social late Thursday, Trump said the board was rescinding its offer for Canada to participate, addressing the message directly to Carney. He did not provide a specific reason for the decision, which came days after Carney warned of a "rupture" in the U.S.-led global order during a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Canada had previously indicated it would accept the invitation in principle but would not contribute financially. Trump has said permanent members of the board would be required to pay a $1bn membership fee to support its operations, a condition Ottawa signaled it would not meet.
Carney's office did not immediately respond to Trump's announcement. Last week, the prime minister said Canada was open to cooperation but needed clarity on the board's structure, governance and financing before making formal commitments.
The Board of Peace is being promoted by the Trump administration as a new international body designed to resolve global conflicts. Trump would serve as chairman with broad decision-making authority. While the initiative was initially framed as a mechanism to help manage post-war governance and reconstruction in Gaza, its proposed charter does not explicitly reference the territory and appears to overlap with functions traditionally handled by the United Nations.
According to the White House, roughly 60 countries have been invited to join, with about 35 agreeing so far. Participating nations include Argentina, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. However, none of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council — including China, Russia, France or the UK — have committed.
European leaders have voiced skepticism. European Council President Antonio Costa said the EU had serious concerns about the board's scope, governance and compatibility with the UN Charter, though he added the bloc was willing to work with the U.S. on Gaza-related initiatives.
Trump's decision followed pointed remarks in Davos, where he said Canada benefits heavily from its relationship with the United States. Carney later pushed back, saying Canada's strength comes from its own sovereignty and institutions.
