US President Donald Trump withdrew Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's invitation to join the Board of Peace initiative on Thursday.
"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," Trump wrote in a Truth Social post directed at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Spain rejects Board of Peace invitation
Spain announced that it will also not take part in the Board of Peace initiative.
"We appreciate the invitation, but we decline," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez told reporters late on Thursday after an EU summit in Brussels.
Sanchez cited consistency with Madrid's commitment to international law, the UN, and multilateralism as the main reasons it was declining to participate.
Sanchez also said the Board of Peace did not include the Palestinian Authority.
Washington says the body will help broker and monitor ceasefires, organize security arrangements, and coordinate rebuilding in places emerging from war. The concept stems from Trump's Gaza peace plan.
Missing from the board's launch ceremony held at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland's Davos on Thursday were traditional US allies such as Canada, Britain, and all European Union members except Hungary and Bulgaria.
Israel has joined the board, along with Middle Eastern countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.