US President Donald Trump has withdrawn Canada’s invitation to join his “Board of Peace”, just days after Prime Minister Mark Carney used his World Economic Forum address in Davos to warn about economic coercion by the world’s biggest powers.
Trump announced the move in a post on Truth Social on Thursday night in the US, saying the board was “withdrawing its invitation” for Canada to join.
The reversal follows a week of rising tension between the two long-time allies, with Carney pushing a message of middle-power cooperation and Trump responding with sharper rhetoric on trade and Canada’s dependence on the United States.
Truth Social post sparks diplomatic fallout
Trump framed the decision as a formal withdrawal.
“Dear Prime Minister Carney: Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Carney had said last week that he planned to join the board, although he noted that details, including financial terms, still had to be worked out. Under the current structure, countries seeking a permanent seat must pay $1 billion.
Davos speech raises alarm over economic coercion
The decision came after Carney’s speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where he argued that the global balance of power is shifting.
Carney said that the world’s “middle powers” must band together to resist coercion from the largest powers. He warned that economic integration is increasingly being used as a tool of pressure rather than cooperation.
In his words, “Great powers have begun using economic integration as weapons. Tariffs as leverage, financial infrastructure as coercion, supply chains as vulnerabilities to be exploited.”
Carney did not name any country directly. Still, his message landed amid growing concern in capitals around the world over how tariffs, sanctions, and supply chain disruptions can be deployed to gain political advantage.
He also argued that recent events show the “rules-based international order” is effectively dead, with superpowers pursuing their interests through coercive economic tactics.
Trump escalates pressure on Canada ties and trade
Trump responded later on the sidelines of the forum, arguing that Canada’s position is rooted in its relationship with Washington.
“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” he said.
Hours before Carney’s address, Trump had posted a digitally altered image of a map with Greenland, Venezuela, and Canada covered with the American flag.
The exchange comes as relations between the two neighbours have come under heavy strain in Trump’s second term.
Trump has repeatedly referred to Canada as the US’s 51st state and has also targeted it with tariffs, deepening uncertainty over future trade conditions.
Carney’s Davos speech, Trump’s public response, and the invitation reversal together highlight how quickly diplomatic messaging is now spilling into policy gestures.
Board of Peace plans widen beyond Gaza mission
Trump’s “Board of Peace” was originally conceived as a body to oversee the demilitarisation and rebuilding of the Gaza Strip after a two-year war with Israel.
However, Trump has said he foresees the board taking a wider role that could ultimately rival the United Nations, a remit that has alarmed several US allies.
Trump has garnered support from regional Middle East countries, including Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
The proposal has also drawn interest from emerging economies such as Indonesia.
But several global powers and traditional Western allies have been more cautious.
Australia, France, Germany, and Italy are among those that have hesitated, while some have rejected the idea altogether.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper reportedly said the UK “won’t be one of the signatories”, citing concerns over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to join.
Russia and China are among the countries invited. Putin reportedly told the Russian security council that the foreign ministry was still studying the proposal, while China has not confirmed whether it will join.
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