Canada refuses to pay $1bn for Trump's 'Peace Board' seat
A Canadian government source has stated that Canada will not pay to be on US President Donald Trump's proposed 'Board of Peace,' confirming the position after Prime Minister Mark Carney initially indicated he would accept an invitation to join. 'Canada will not pay for a seat on the board, nor has that been requested of Canada at this time,' the source told AFP. The board, originally conceived to oversee Gaza rebuilding, could allow member countries to join for three years or longer if they pay more than $1 billion (approximately ₦1.5 trillion) in cash within the first year, according to its draft charter. However, the source clarified that the charter is 'still a document under discussion' with many terms being negotiated. Carney's initial willingness was to 'have a seat at the table to shape this process from within.' For Nigerians, this highlights how major economies are navigating Trump's transactional foreign policy—where influence appears to come with a price tag. The $1 billion fee, if applied, would exceed the annual budget of several West African nations. Will other G7 countries follow Canada's lead and refuse to pay, or will they prioritize diplomatic influence despite the high cost?