US President Donald Trump has withdrawn an invitation to Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney to his controversial “Peace Council”. The Republican informed about this in a brief post on his online platform Truth Social, without giving a reason for it. On Thursday at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alpine town of Davos, he signed a founding document for the body, which critics see as an attack on the United Nations.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Image: keystone
Originally, the US advice was – at least officially – tailored to the implementation of the Gaza peace plan. But there has long been talk that the committee could take on many other conflicts and create order in the interests of the US President. As chairman of the council, Trump himself decides who can become a member. Dozens of countries have received invitations to join – but only a few initially accepted, including some authoritarian states.
Canada is one of the countries that initially did not make a firm commitment. The country could in principle imagine participating, but the details have not been finally clarified, said Carney.
Carney rejects Trump’s statements about Canada
The Canadian head of government attracted attention in Davos with an impressive speech. The U.S.-led global governance system is currently experiencing a rupture characterized by great power competition and a fading rules-based order, Carney said. He did not mention Trump by name, but observers assumed that he had him in mind above all. The US President had announced several times that he wanted to make Canada part of the United States.
Carney’s speech at the WEF:
Video: twitter/watson
Trump himself obviously felt addressed by Carney’s speech: The USA has always been very generous with Canada, said the US President in Davos. Nevertheless, Carney did not appear very grateful during his speech. “Canada exists thanks to the United States, remember that, Mark, the next time you speak,” Trump said.
In the meantime, Carney has spoken out again – and has clearly contradicted the content of Trump’s statements. Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership in economics, security and cultural exchange, he said Thursday. “But Canada doesn’t exist because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadians.” (dab/sda/dpa)