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New Delhi: In what could escalate a simmering tension between the US and Canada, US President Donald Trump on Thursday withdrew an invitation sent to Ottawa to join the Board of Peace campaign initiated to resolve global conflict.
Trump's move came hours after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney hit back at his US President for claiming at the World Economic Forum in Davos, that "Canada lives because of the United States." Carney said "Canada doesn't live because of the US" and the country thrives because "we are Canadian".
Following Carney's remarks, Trump on his Truth Social platform, said the US was withdrawing an invitation for Canada to join the "Board of Peace" -- his self-styled billion-dollar body.
"Dear Prime Minister Carney: Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada's joining," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
How it started
On Tuesday, Carney's speech in Davos drew global attention and he received standing ovation for not shying away from denouncing the US-led, rules-based global order and urging nations to accept the end of such global order. Although his Tuesday's speech did not mention Trump, it was seen as a reference to the US President's disruptive influence on international affairs.
Carney had said that middle powers like Canada who had prospered through the era of an "American hegemon" needed to realise that a new reality had set in, and that "compliance" would not shelter them from major power aggression.
Hitting back at Carney, Trump on Wednesday slammed his Canadian PM during his own speech in Davos. " I watched your PM yesterday. He was not so grateful. Canada lives because of the US. Remember that the next time you make your statements," he said.
The war of words between the two leaders underscores growing tensions between the allied nations. While Carney has been critical of the Trump administration since assuming office 9 months ago, Ottawa remains heavily reliant on trade with the US.
