President Trump will no longer invite Canada to join his Board of Peace after tensions between the countries flared at an economic forum in Switzerland.
Mr. Trump announced his decision in a social media post directed at Canadian Prime Minister Mark 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,” Mr. Trump wrote.
Mr. Trump and leaders from 20 other countries signed a charter to establish the Board of Peace at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
The board was created to implement a peace plan in Gaza, though Mr. Trump says it could settle future international conflicts.
Some Western allies are reluctant to join, fearing it could undermine the United Nations as the world’s major peace-seeking body.
Canada expressed interest in joining but said that it would not pay the $1 billion fee that Mr. Trump demanded from countries seeking permanent membership.
Now, Mr. Trump isn’t giving Canada a choice after a war of words between the countries’ leaders at Davos.
On Monday, Mr. Carney delivered a speech decrying a world order in which powerful nations abandon diplomatic traditions in favor of their own interests. His remarks were a clear reference to Mr. Trump and the U.S., though he never mentioned either by name.
He described this era as a “rupture” and urged other leaders to stand up against it.
“Every day we’re reminded that we live in an era of great-power rivalry,” Mr. Carney said. “That rules-based order is fading. That the strong can do what they can, and the weak must suffer what they must.”
Mr. Trump bristled at the remarks during his Davos speech, saying Canada relies on the U.S. for its military and economic survival and would be protected by his planned Golden Dome anti-missile system.
“Canada gets a lot of freebies from us,” Mr. Trump said. “By the way, they should be grateful also, but they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. They should be grateful to us.”
“Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements,” Mr. Trump said.
Mr. Trump has rattled Canada, a traditionally friendly neighbor, since the start of his second term. He repeatedly threatened tariffs on Canada and its industries, and he floated the idea of annexing Canada into the U.S. to form one large country in North America.
Canadians are pushing back by refusing to buy U.S.-made alcohol and other products.
