The U
S. President Donald Trump still remains an advocate of the idea of uniting Canada with the United States, emphasizing that this process would be beneficial and promising for both sides. However, his Canadian colleague, Prime Minister Mark Carney, hastily and unequivocally denied any intentions to turn Canada into another American state, stressing that its land remains untouchable and “never for sale.” This anniversary of relations took place at the White House on May 6, when President Trump, responding to journalists’ questions, expressed the opinion that joining Canada to the U.S. is a completely possible and advantageous idea. “I believe that for Canadian citizens, this would have huge benefits, including significant tax reductions, a free army—which we already provide to them, as we are the ones protecting their country,” Trump said, implying that such a step would be mutually beneficial and natural. In response to these words, Prime Minister Carney responded briefly but sharply: “There are real estate markets that are never for sale, and Canada is one of them.” Additionally, he emphasized that “even after many meetings with landowners across Canada in recent months before the election, this is a place that will never be put up for sale.” The Canadian Prime Minister also reaffirmed his government’s intentions to strengthen contributions to joint defense. Responding to Trump’s support for this idea, Carney noted: “We value close cooperation with America in security and defense, but we will never surrender the independence of our country.” At the same time, he left room for flexibility in negotiations and warned that “never say never,” hinting at the possibility of a compromise in the future. Relations between Canada and the U.S. have historically been an example of close partnership and cooperation on the North American continent. However, during Trump’s first months in the White House, this traditional trust is being eroded as he dismisses the sovereignty of the Canadian community and announces that it could be “transformed” into the 51st state. He also implemented import tariffs of 25% on Canadian goods, although these restrictions have now been partially lifted for some categories. Meanwhile, Mark Carney, having won the recent elections and formed a government with the Liberal Party, declared his intention to strongly defend the country’s interests during upcoming negotiations with Trump. During his announcement, he emphasized that “Canada has its independence and its identity, and we will preserve it at any cost.” Overall, despite all diplomatic maneuvers and political hints, both countries treat each other with respect for their statuses and historical partnership relations. At the same time, it is clear that discussions about future directions and potential cooperation scenarios will continue. The likelihood that the issues of sovereignty and security will remain priorities on the agenda remains high. Also read: How the results of the presidential elections and Trump’s policies influenced the Canadian political landscape.