Trump Withdraws Canada's Invitation to Join His 'Board of Peace'
President Donald Trump has revoked an invitation to Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to join his newly created 'Board of Peace'. The board, which Trump unveiled at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, is aimed at resolving global conflicts. The reasons for the withdrawal remain unclear, although it followed a public disagreement between the two leaders.
Background and Context
Trump's 'Board of Peace' was initially established to oversee the governance and reconstruction of Gaza as part of a UN-backed peace deal between Hamas and Israel. However, Trump has since expanded the scope of the board, inviting dozens of heads of state to join this global body. Despite this, several countries declined to join, citing potential conflicts with the mandate of the United Nations.
In the lead-up to the World Economic Forum, Trump had extended an invitation for Canada to join the board, an invitation that Prime Minister Carney had accepted in principle. However, this invitation was rescinded on Thursday, with Trump announcing the decision in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
Key Developments
The decision to withdraw Canada's invitation followed a speech made by Prime Minister Carney at the World Economic Forum, in which he openly criticised tariffs and the collapse of the rules-based order. Carney also spoke about the importance of middle powers resisting Trump's attempts to dismantle the international order, stating, Canada doesn't live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.
Trump did not provide a specific reason for revoking the invitation, but the decision was made public shortly after Carney's remarks. The timing has led to speculation that the withdrawal is a response to Carney's criticisms.
Reactions and Implications
The decision to withdraw Canada's invitation has been met with varied responses. Some see it as a sign of increasing tension between the U.S. and Canada, while others view it as a reflection of Trump's dissatisfaction with Carney's remarks.
Skeptics of the 'Board of Peace' have also raised concerns about the initiative, questioning its broad scope and funding mechanisms. According to a report by Bloomberg, Trump could potentially retain the chairmanship of the board for life, with panel members required to pay regular fees of at least $1 billion.
Current Status
Despite the withdrawal of Canada's invitation, Trump's 'Board of Peace' initiative continues to move forward, with invitations extended to approximately 60 nations. The response to these invitations has been cautious, with only Hungary, a close ally of Trump, accepting unequivocally. The status of Canada's involvement in the 'Board of Peace' remains uncertain.