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Mark Carney, Canada’s new prime minister, has dismissed the prospect of a full blown confrontation with the US as “unthinkable”, citing Nato’s doctrine of mutual defence.
Carney, talking throughout a whirlwind go to to London and Paris, was requested whether or not he had gained assurances from UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron that they’d “Canada’s back” if the US used financial power “or more” to annex its neighbour.
“All of us are in Nato and all of us respect article 5 of Nato,” he stated, referring to the alliance’s doctrine that an armed assault on one member would entice a response from others. The US, Canada, Britain and France are all Nato members.
Requested whether or not he was upset that Starmer had not held a joint press convention to publicly criticise US President Donald Trump’s threats to Canada, Carney replied: “We can stand up for ourselves.”
Talking throughout his first overseas journey since turning into Canada’s prime minister, Carney stated Trump’s suggestion the US may annex it as a 51st state would “have to stop” earlier than he can be ready to sit down down and speak about future relations.
Trump has introduced 25 per cent tariffs on US imports from Canada, however backtracked this month by briefly exempting merchandise coated by a free commerce settlement between the 2 nations.
He has additionally introduced extra levies on Canadian aluminium and metal. Canada has retaliated with its personal tariffs on US imports.
Carney conceded there have been “limits” to Canada’s willingness to match US tariffs greenback for greenback, given the relative measurement of the 2 economies.
“We won’t take any action which we don’t think will ultimately influence the US or is outright harmful to Canada,” Carney stated. “There’s a limit, full stop.”
Carney stated throughout his European journey, which included assembly King Charles at Buckingham Palace, that Canada was “the most European of non-European countries”.
The King, Canada’s head of state, wore a purple tie for the event and Carney stated of the monarch: “We have a steadfast defender in our sovereign.”
Downing Avenue stated Starmer had “underlined that the UK and Canada are the closest of sovereign allies and friends”, in a discreet present of solidarity.
Nevertheless each Starmer and Macron are anxious to keep away from antagonising Trump as they search to steer him to offer safety ensures for any peace deal to finish Russia’s warfare in Ukraine. Each leaders additionally need to keep away from additional US tariffs.
Carney, who was sworn in as Canada’s prime minister final week, succeeded Justin Trudeau.
The previous Financial institution of England governor faces a set of daunting challenges and should name a basic election in Canada earlier than October.
Nevertheless Trump’s election, and his threats to Canadian sovereignty and imposition of tariffs, has boosted Carney’s Liberal get together within the polls, demolishing a beforehand large lead for the opposition Conservatives led by Pierre Poilievre.
Britain and Canada have an ongoing commerce dispute centered on beef and cheese, however the two nations are working collectively on safety points, together with efforts to safe a peace deal in Ukraine.
Earlier on Monday Carney stated in Paris that he intends to strengthen Canada’s relations with “reliable allies” in Europe.
Macron stated France and Canada had been “powers for peace” when it got here to the warfare in Ukraine, and would demand “clear commitments” from Russia forward of any peace deal.
Xavier Delgado of the Canada Institute on the Wilson Heart in Washington DC stated Carney’s journey mirrored a widely-held view that “the US today is not a reliable partner and ally”.
“As this period of tension with the US drags on, expect Canada to expand trade relations with other allies and partners around the world,” he added.
