The President of the United States, Donald Trump, recently expressed his opinion on the possibility of making Canada the 51st state of the country. In a social media post, he stated it was the "only logical" move and in a later statement in the Oval Office, he indicated that it "only works as a state." Highlighting that, as a state, Canada would be visually stunning and one of the great states of the nation.
Trump has intensified pressure on Canada, its second-largest trading partner and NATO ally, by imposing a 25 percent tariff on various Canadian products despite existing free trade agreements. The relationship between the two countries has been affected, especially after Trump referred to Trudeau as the "governor" of the hypothetical "Great State of Canada" during a dinner in November.
The U.S. ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra, during his confirmation hearing, acknowledged Canada as a sovereign nation and hinted that the complicated relationship between Trump and Trudeau may have influenced the President's calls to annex Canada. With a change in leadership in Canada, with Mark Carney succeeding Trudeau as Prime Minister, tensions between the two countries have increased.
Although Canadian officials initially interpreted Trump's comments as a joke, their repetition has caused outrage in Canada. This situation arises at a delicate moment for both nations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio participating in meetings in Quebec to ease bilateral tensions. Meanwhile, lawmakers like Chris Coons continue to push for constructive dialogue and an end to the provocative rhetoric that has impacted the relationship between the United States and Canada.
