Trump gives Canada a setback, invitation to join ‘Board of Peace’ withdrawn
Washington (The Uttam Hindu): US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the invitation earlier extended to Canada to join the newly formed Board of Peace. The decision comes amid fresh tensions between the two North American neighbors. Trump shared this information through a post on his social media platform Truth Social. Addressing Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, he wrote that the Board of Peace has decided to revoke the invitation sent to Canada.
However, Trump did not clearly explain the reason behind canceling Canada’s invitation. No specific cause was mentioned in his post regarding the withdrawal.
It may be noted that earlier, during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump stated that “Canada survives because of the United States.” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney strongly rejected this claim, dismissing the idea that Canada depends on the US for its existence.
Carney said that Canada and the United States share a strong partnership in areas such as the economy, security, and cultural exchange, but Canada does not survive because of the US. He added that Canada continues to progress because of its own people and identity.
The Board of Peace has been launched by President Trump with the stated aim of promoting global peace. Invitations were sent to nearly 60 countries across the world. According to Israeli media reports, around 25 countries have accepted the invitation so far.
Countries that have joined the Board of Peace include Israel, Bahrain, Morocco, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Hungary, Indonesia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Pakistan, Paraguay, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Egypt, Vietnam, and Mongolia. Eight Islamic countries are among those that have accepted the invitation.
Trump had also invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the board announced under the second phase of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire in Gaza. However, India has not taken a decision yet. The Ministry of External Affairs stated that the proposal is currently under consideration.
Meanwhile, major countries such as France, the United Kingdom, China, Germany, Sweden, and Norway did not participate in the signing ceremony. Several nations, including Germany, Italy, Paraguay, Russia, Slovenia, Türkiye, and Ukraine, have also not made any commitment regarding the invitation. Membership in the Board of Peace will be limited to a three-year term, and reports suggest that permanent membership may require a payment of one billion dollars.