Trump launches “Peace Board” over Gaza and withdraws Canada’s invitation

By Tahani Elghazaly
Published January 23, 2026

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U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the formation of a new international initiative called the “Board of Peace,” aimed at supporting ceasefire efforts in Gaza and addressing global conflict zones. The announcement came during his appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he signed the board’s founding charter and invited around fifty countries to join.

According to diplomatic sources, more than thirty nations have confirmed participation, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, Morocco, and several countries from Latin America and Central Asia.

Conversely, several European powers—including France, the UK, and Italy—declined to participate, raising concerns over the board’s mandate and its overlap with the role of the United Nations. Observers noted that the initiative also appears to offer a parallel diplomatic platform, possibly challenging traditional Western influence.

In a striking move, Trump announced the withdrawal of Canada’s invitation to join the board, via a post on his platform Truth Social, accusing Ottawa of showing insufficient respect. The decision followed a speech by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in Davos, where he strongly criticized the use of economic tools as instruments of coercion—remarks widely interpreted as a veiled critique of Trump’s policies.

Carney later responded by affirming Canada’s sovereign commitment to peace, stating that “Canada doesn’t thrive because it gains someone’s approval, but because it is Canada.”

The formation of the board and the exclusion of Canada mark a new phase of diplomatic friction between Washington and Ottawa, and raise questions about whether the initiative will gain global traction or face resistance as another unilateral U.S.-led project