Trump Pulls Canada from Board of Peace Amid Rift

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that Canada is no longer invited to join the Board of Peace, a new group he launched to oversee Gaza's future. The move came in a direct message to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Truth Social, just days after sharp exchanges between the two leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Trump pointed to Carney's recent comments on global trade and security as the reason, calling out what he saw as a lack of thanks from Canada toward the United States.

Background

The Board of Peace took shape from a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Hamas war that the Trump administration helped broker last year. Trump formally rolled it out on Thursday morning in Davos, where leaders from more than a dozen countries signed its charter. The board aims to manage Gaza's reconstruction and governance, but Trump has talked about bigger goals, like tackling other world conflicts. He plans to chair it himself, with help from figures like his son-in-law Jared Kushner, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and billionaire Marc Rowan.

Canada had seemed on board at first. Last week, Carney said his country agreed in principle to join, but only if certain issues got sorted out. He stressed the need for free aid flows into Gaza and clear rules on how the board would run. Canadian Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne added that Canada would not pay for a seat, even though some spots might cost $1 billion for permanent membership. No payment was required to join, but Canada drew a firm line there.

Tensions between Trump and Carney built over months. Trade disputes simmered, with Trump pushing tariffs on Canadian goods. Then came Trump's idea to buy Greenland from Denmark for a massive missile defense system called the Golden Dome. He said it would protect Canada too, but Carney and other allies pushed back. At Davos, Carney spoke about a breaking world order, where big powers use tariffs and force to get their way. He urged middle powers like Canada to diversify trade and stand firm on sovereignty, without naming Trump.

Trump took it personally. In his own Davos speech, he hit back hard.

"Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements."

• President Donald Trump

Carney responded the same day.

"Canada doesn't live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian."

• Prime Minister Mark Carney

These words set the stage for Thursday's withdrawal. Trump's Truth Social post read like a formal letter: "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."

Key Details

The board has drawn commitments from about 35 countries so far, including invites to Russia, Belarus, France, Germany, Vietnam, Finland, Ukraine, Ireland, Greece, Israel, and China. Leaders from Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia joined the Davos signing. But not all Western allies are in. France and the UK have said no, with the UK citing Trump's outreach to Russia's Vladimir Putin as a problem.

Board Structure and Goals

Trump sees the board as more than just Gaza. He said it could handle other global issues, working alongside the United Nations. The Gaza focus includes rebuilding after the war, with unimpeded aid as a key point Carney raised. Funding details remain fuzzy, and how decisions will get made is still unclear. Permanent seats might go to big donors, but basics like three-year terms for others are set.

The US-Canada spat fits a pattern. Carney has pushed trade deals with China and others to cut reliance on the US. That comes ahead of a review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade pact this year. Trump has long griped about trade imbalances, calling Canada ungrateful for US security help. His Greenland push added fuel, as NATO partners opposed it.

Global Affairs Canada and the White House have not commented yet on the withdrawal. About 50 countries were expected to sign on eventually, Trump said, but Canada's exit marks an early snag.

What This Means

Pulling Canada's invite signals deeper cracks in US-Canada relations. Trade talks could get rougher, especially with tariffs in play. The board loses a stable Western voice, which might make it harder to gain trust from Europe and others. Countries like the UK and France staying out already limits its reach.

For Gaza, the board moves forward without Canada, but reconstruction needs broad buy-in. Aid flows and funding gaps remain hurdles. Trump's broad vision for the board—beyond Gaza—raises questions about its role in places like Ukraine or trade wars.

Canada now looks elsewhere. Carney's diversification push means more deals with Asia and Europe. That could shift North American dynamics, making US neighbors less tied to Washington. The spat also spotlights Trump's style: direct calls on allies to show loyalty or face cuts.

Business leaders watch closely. Tariffs hurt cross-border trade in autos, energy, and lumber. A tense USMCA review might bring new barriers. Defense ties stay strong through NATO, but Trump's freebies talk strains that.

Gaza reconstruction hangs in balance. With 35 nations in, momentum builds, but holdouts like UN Security Council permanents slow things. Trump's team pushes for quick wins to prove the board works.

The Davos clashes echo wider shifts. Middle powers assert independence as superpowers flex. Canada joins allies like the UK in picking paths apart from US plans. Trump's board tests if his deal-making pulls in skeptics or pushes them away.

Trade watchers expect more friction. Canada rules out paying for board seats, but broader economic pressure looms. Trump's Greenland bid and tariff threats keep neighbors on edge. Bilateral meetings might cool things, but harsh words linger.

Gaza aid groups call for steady flows regardless of boards. Reconstruction costs billions, and donors wait for clear plans. The board's success could set models for other hotspots.

US politics factor in too. Trump's base likes his tough stance on allies. Critics see risks to partnerships. As the board forms, its makeup will show who aligns with his peace push.