U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that he is rescinding the invitation extended to Prime Minister Mark Carney to participate in his “Board of Peace” project for Gaza. The initiative was introduced by Trump during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with the aim of reconstructing the conflict-affected region during a governance transition phase.
Although 35 countries have signed up to be part of the board, Carney had not formally accepted the invitation. He was not present at the official launch in Davos as he was attending a cabinet retreat in Quebec City. In a post on his Truth Social website, Trump stated that Carney had been uninvited from the project.
The Prime Minister’s Office responded with a measured statement expressing support for Trump’s peace efforts in Gaza. Meanwhile, key Middle East nations such as Israel, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have joined the initiative, while traditional European allies like the U.K. and France have declined the invitation due to concerns over certain aspects conflicting with the UN charter.
Trump also extended an invitation to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is internationally isolated following the invasion of Ukraine, with Putin considering joining the initiative. Countries seeking a permanent seat on the board are required to contribute $1 billion U.S.
Carney initially indicated a willingness to join the board but later expressed reservations, citing uncertainties surrounding the board’s structure and membership fee. Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne confirmed that Canada does not intend to pay the substantial fee for a permanent position on the board.
The decision to retract Carney’s invitation came after both leaders delivered speeches at the Davos event, with Carney emphasizing the need for middle powers to collaborate on global issues and Trump asserting that Canada should appreciate the U.S. President Trump’s remarks led to a back-and-forth exchange between the two leaders, emphasizing Canada’s independent thriving nature despite its strong partnership with the United States.
