United States President, Donald Trump, has withdrawn an invitation earlier extended to Canada to join his newly launched Board of Peace initiative, following critical remarks made by Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
The decision came just hours after the formal unveiling of the Board of Peace and days after Carney delivered a strongly worded speech in Switzerland, where he cautioned against powerful nations using economic integration and tariffs as tools of coercion.
In his address at Davos, which reportedly drew a standing ovation, Carney argued that the global community was witnessing the collapse of a rules-based international order.
He urged middle powers to collaborate in order to avoid being marginalised by dominant global forces, while indirectly criticising what he described as American economic hegemony.
Trump announced the withdrawal in a public message posted on his Truth Social platform on January 23, 2026, directly addressing the Canadian leader.
In the post, the U.S. president stated that the Board of Peace had rescinded its invitation to Canada to join what he described as “the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled.”
The move represented a sharp reversal, as Carney’s office had confirmed only last week that Canada had received the invitation and that the prime minister was prepared to accept the role.
Reacting earlier to Carney’s comments in Davos, Trump insisted that Canada depended heavily on the United States, adding that the Canadian leader should acknowledge Washington’s longstanding support.
He warned Carney to bear that in mind when making public statements.
The Board of Peace, unveiled by Trump on Thursday, is part of his broader plan to help stabilise the ceasefire in Gaza. The initiative has reportedly received endorsement through a United Nations Security Council resolution linked to the plan.
Trump disclosed that permanent members of the board would be required to contribute financially, with each expected to pay about one billion dollars to support its operations.
Speaking further in Switzerland, Trump said the board would wield significant influence once fully constituted, adding that its activities would be carried out in collaboration with the United Nations.
However, a United Nations spokesperson, Rolando Gomez, clarified that the UN’s involvement with the board would be limited strictly to matters relating to the Gaza peace framework.
Countries currently listed as members of the Board of Peace include Argentina, Bahrain, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey. Several key U.S. allies, such as Britain, France and Italy, have indicated that they do not intend to join the initiative at this stage.
As of Thursday evening, neither the Canadian Prime Minister’s office nor the White House had issued an official response to enquiries on the matter, according to a Reuters report released on Friday.
