Trump withdraws Canada’s invite to join Board of Peace

US President Donald Trump has withdrawn his invitation for Canada to join the newly created Peace Board, in the latest spat between the North American neighbours.

“Please allow this letter to represent that the Peace Board is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canadian participation,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney. he said.

Carney made headlines this week by warning of a “rupture” in the US-led global order. Ottawa also said it would not pay to join Trump’s new body.

The body, which gives Trump broad decision-making powers as president, is billed by the United States as a new international organization to resolve conflicts.

Trump did not give a reason why he decided to withdraw Canada’s offer in his post Thursday evening.

Carney’s office did not immediately respond to that question. The Prime Minister stated last week that he would accept Trump’s invitation in principle.

But Ottawa has said in recent days that it will not pay the $1 billion (£740 million) membership fee that Trump said permanent members would be asked to pay to help finance the board.

The Peace Board was initially thought to be aimed at helping end the two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza and overseeing reconstruction.

But the proposed charter makes no mention of Palestinian territory and appears designed to fulfill the functions of the UN. Trump would remain president for life.

About 60 countries have been invited to join the board, and about 35 have already signed up, according to the White House.

Those who have agreed to participate so far include Argentina, Belarus, Morocco, Vietnam, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kosovo, Hungary, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

However, none of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council (China, France, Russia and the UK) have so far committed to joining.

Carney appeared to anger Trump with a speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week that drew a rare standing ovation.

Although the prime minister did not mention the US president by name, he called on other “middle powers” to unite against economic pressures exerted by the “great powers”.

A day later, Trump told the meeting at his Swiss Alps resort that Canada had received many “freebies” from the United States and “should be grateful.”

“Canada lives because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that next time you explain, Mark.”

On Thursday, Carney hit back at Trump, who gave another speech on his home turf.

Speaking in Quebec, he said: “Canada does not survive because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians.”