US President Donald Trump withdrew his invitation to Canada to join the Board of Peace after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney rejected Trump’s claims of Canada’s dependence on the United States.Also read: Why India should not join Trump’s $1 billion ‘Board of Peace’ — ExplainedTrump, in his post on Truth Social, wrote, “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, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time.”
Tensions escalated between the two leaders at the World Economic Forum on Tuesday. Carney, in his speech, took a stance against the US’s “ruptured” global order. Following this, Trump, in his address, claimed that Canada lives because of the US.
Later, Mark Carney, responding to Trump’s remark in a national address at Quebec City on Thursday, claimed that Canada thrives because of itself. Acknowledging the “remarkable partnership” between the two nations, the press, he said, “Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian.”Also read: Pakistan backs Trump’s Gaza ‘Board of Peace’ — why it’s a complicated fitHe further added that Canada should serve as a model in an era of “democratic decline.” Carney said, “Canada can’t solve all the world’s problems, but we can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isn’t destined to be warped towards authoritarianism and exclusion.”Earlier in Davos, Carney, in his speech, also received a standing ovation over his stance against the “rupture” in the US-led, rules-based global order. He implied that the trade rules and international laws are applied based on military and economic might.In his speech, Carney said, “We knew the story of the international rules-based order was partially false, that the strongest would exempt themselves when convenient, that trade rules were enforced asymmetrically. This fiction was useful, and American hegemony, in particular, helped provide public goods, open sea lanes, a stable financial system, collective security and support for frameworks for resolving disputes.“Calling out the faults of the system, he said, “We placed the sign in the window. We participated in the rituals, and we largely avoided calling out the gaps between rhetoric and reality. This bargain no longer works. Let me be direct. We are in the midst of a rupture, not a transition.”Trump, later in his speech, trained guns at Carney as he said, “I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
What is Trump’s Board of Peace?
Trump proposed the Board of Peace in September to look after the ceasefire, demilitarisation and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. It was also endorsed by the UN Security Council in November for the same purpose. However, going forward, Trump expanded the board’s mandate to include the stability and peace concerning different worldwide conflicts.
Trump inaugurated his Board of Peace on Thursday in Davos. In his address, Trump did not offer a clear mandate about the purpose of the board and hailed it as “something very, very unique for the world.”He said that the board could work with the United Nations and not only resolve the wars in the Middle East but also conflicts around the world. He said, “This isn’t the United States; this is for the world. I think we can spread it out to other things as we succeed in Gaza. We’ll do it in conjunction with the United Nations.”
Out of the 59 countries that signed onto the board, only 19 were present at the unveiling event.
