Trump withdraws Canada’s invitation to join peace commission

In the latest spat between North America’s neighbors, US President Donald Trump has withdrawn his invitation to Canada to join his newly formed “peace council.”

“Please allow this letter to withdraw your invitation on behalf of the Peace Council,” Trump said in a post on The Truth Society to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who made headlines this week for warning that the U.S.-led global order was “broken.”

Canada said that while it would not pay to join the committee, it would join.

Meanwhile, EU President Antonio Costa said European leaders had serious doubts about the scope of the commission but were willing to work with the body in Gaza.

The commission, which the United States bills as a new international organization for conflict resolution, gives Trump broad decision-making powers as chairman.

In his post late Thursday, Trump did not say why he decided to withdraw Canada’s offer.

Carney’s office did not immediately respond. The prime minister said last week that he would accept Trump’s invitation in principle.

But Ottawa has said in recent days it will not pay the $1 billion (£740 million) membership fee Trump said he would ask permanent members to pay to help fund the committee.

Trump’s “peace council” was initially thought to be aimed at helping end Israel and Hamas’ two-year war in Gaza and oversee reconstruction.

But its proposed charter makes no mention of the Palestinian territories and appears designed to replace the functions of the United Nations. Trump will remain chairman for life.

According to the White House, about 60 countries have been invited to join the committee, and about 35 of them have signed up.

Countries that have agreed to join include Argentina, Belarus, Morocco, Vietnam, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kosovo, Hungary, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Jordan, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia.

But so far, none of the other permanent members of the UN Security Council – China, France, Russia and the UK – have committed to participating.

Britain has expressed concerns about the inclusion of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose troops are fighting in Ukraine after invading the country in 2022. France says the current charter is “incompatible” with its international commitments, particularly its commitment to join the United Nations.

European Council President Antonio Costa said European leaders had doubts about the scope of the commission but were ready to work with the United States and Gaza’s newly created institutions.

Speaking after a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Friday, Costa said, “We have serious doubts about many elements of the Peace Commission’s charter concerning its scope, its governance and its compatibility with the United Nations Charter.”

But he said the EU was “ready to work with the United States to implement a comprehensive peace plan for Gaza and for the Peace Council to fulfill its mandate as a transitional government.”

After a summit of EU leaders, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez told reporters that Spain had “rejected” an invitation to join the body.

Trump’s withdrawal of Canada’s invitation comes after Carney appeared to anger Trump with a speech he gave at the World Economic Forum in Davos this week, which earned a rare standing ovation.

The prime minister urged other “middle powers” to unite in response to economic coercion by “big powers” but did not mention the US president by name.

A day later, Trump told a rally at his Swiss Alpine resort that Canada had received many “freebies” from the United States and that it “should be grateful.”

“Canada exists because of the United States,” Trump said. “Remember that, Mark, the next time you make a statement.”

Carney fired back at Trump on Thursday during another speech in his hometown.

“Canada does not survive because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians,” he said in a speech in Quebec.