U.S. President Donald Trump has revoked an invitation extended to Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney to join the newly launched “Board of Peace,” a U.S.-led international initiative aimed at advancing peace efforts initially focused on the Gaza conflict at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The decision was announced by Trump in a social media post on 22nd January Thursday night, shortly after the board’s founding charter signing.
Trump’s message to Carney, shared on Truth Social, stated that the board was “withdrawing its invitation” to Canada to take part in what he called “the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled.” The announcement followed a speech by Carney at Davos in which the Canadian leader criticised the rules-based global order and expressed concerns about economic coercion by powerful states remarks widely seen as directed at the U.S. approach to international relations.
The Board of Peace was formally launched on January 22, 2026, when Trump and representatives of several founding member states signed its charter on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. The initiative is positioned by the U.S. as a mechanism to support a ceasefire and reconstruction framework in Gaza, and possibly to address other international conflicts, including broader global crises. Its establishment has been backed by a United Nations Security Council resolution but has drawn mixed reactions from global leaders.
Canada’s exclusion comes amid diplomatic tensions, with Trump reportedly saying Canada should be “grateful” for U.S. support comments that drew a sharp rebuttal from Ottawa. Canadian officials had indicated in Davos that they were assessing the proposed board’s structure and financial requirements, including a reported US$1 billion contribution requirement for formal membership.
Several other major Western nations including France, the United Kingdom and Italy have so far declined to join the Board, citing questions about its governance and relevance alongside existing multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations.
