No to the 51st State: Carney Defends Canada's Sovereignty Against Trump’s Pressure

OTTAWA —
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney made it clear in an exclusive interview with the BBC 📺 that Canada will only engage with U.S. President Donald Trump 🇺🇸 “on our terms.” Speaking as election polls closed Monday night, Carney firmly stated he would only travel to Washington if talks respected Canada’s sovereignty and dignity.

The comment comes as tensions escalate following Trump’s repeated — and inflammatory — references to making Canada the "51st state" 🗺️ of America, a notion that has deeply angered Canadians coast to coast.

Carney, whose Liberal Party secured a historic fourth consecutive term 🗳️, dismissed the idea outright:
"It’s never, ever going to happen — not for Canada, nor for any other country like Panama or Greenland," he said.

Yet despite the friction, Carney also pointed to a "win-win possibility" 🤝 if Canada could secure fair trade and security deals — not just with the U.S., but by expanding ties with partners like the UK 🇬🇧 and the European Union 🇪🇺.

Strained U.S.-Canada Relations 🌎

The stakes are high: about 75% of Canada's exports head south to the U.S., while only 17% of U.S. exports come north. Canada also remains the largest foreign supplier of crude oil 🛢️ to the U.S. — a dynamic that adds both leverage and tension to the relationship.

However, Trump's administration has repeatedly rattled this crucial partnership.
Beyond annexation talk, Trump has referred to former PM Justin Trudeau as merely a "governor" — the American title for state leaders — further inflaming frustrations 🇨🇦💥.

In addition, Trump has imposed a partial 25% blanket tariff on Canadian goods, including all aluminum and steel imports 🚢. Canada retaliated with C$60 billion ($42 billion USD) in counter-tariffs, targeting a wide range of U.S. products 🍁⚖️.

"Talks with President Trump will be on our terms, not on theirs," Carney emphasized. "There is a partnership to be had — an economic and security partnership — but it will be very different from the past."

From Banker to Battle-Hardened PM 🏦➡️🏛️

Mark Carney's rise to power has been nothing short of extraordinary.
A career banker, he led the Bank of Canada through the 2008 global financial crisis 🌐💸, then made history as the first non-Briton to run the Bank of England from 2013 to 2020.

Despite lacking previous elected experience, Carney campaigned on his expertise managing economic crises — a skill that now seems tailor-made for navigating Trump’s aggressive trade policies 🎯.

Carney reminded Americans of Canada’s vital role in their economy:
"We supply them with critical energy, and their farmers with nearly all their fertilizer. We deserve respect — and we expect it," he said. "And I'm sure we'll get it again soon enough."

Eyeing New Partnerships 🌍

As Canada braces for tough talks with Washington, Carney also signaled a pivot toward closer ties with other like-minded nations.

He suggested that Canada could revive a stalled free trade agreement with the UK 🇨🇦🤝🇬🇧 — noting that 95% of trade between the two nations is already tariff-free but that greater integration in defense and security partnerships is possible.

"There’s a lot we can do together," Carney said, hinting at deeper collaboration on military and economic fronts.

UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer offered his congratulations 📜, vowing to strengthen ties in defense, security, trade, and investment with Canada's new leadership.

All Eyes on the G7 🔍

Looking ahead, Carney pointed to the G7 Summit in June — hosted by Canada — as a pivotal moment 🌐.
"It will be very important," he said, suggesting the gathering would test whether the world’s most advanced economies can still present a unified front against growing global trade tensions.

The summit will occur just as the 90-day pause on some of Trump’s toughest tariffs expires, raising the stakes for all participants.

"It’s time to put to the test whether the G7 is still the most like-minded of like-minded groups," Carney concluded.

As Canada charts its next chapter, one thing is clear: Ottawa is ready to stand tall on the global stage — and will demand respect every step of the way 🇨🇦✨.