Carney accuses Trump of undermining Canadian sovereignty

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Apr 2025 22:31

Amid rising tensions, Canada unveils bold economic strategies to counter external pressures and assert national independence on the global stage.

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Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney leaves 10 Downing Street after a meeting with Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London, Monday, March 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has delivered one of his strongest warnings yet about the threat he believes US President Donald Trump poses to Canada's sovereignty and unity.

Speaking at a campaign stop in Victoria, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Carney framed the escalating trade and diplomatic tensions not merely as a dispute over tariffs but as part of a broader, deliberate campaign by Trump to undermine and destabilize Canada.

"We are facing the biggest crisis of our lifetimes. President Trump is attacking Canada – America's closest ally, America's closest partner," Carney declared.

The prime minister claimed that Trump is attempting to "break" Canada in order to take control of it, firmly stating that "will never happen."

The warning comes as part of a larger pattern of intensifying US pressure. In March, the Trump administration enacted sweeping 25% tariffs on a wide range of Canadian exports, steel, aluminum, automobiles, and lumber, outside the protection of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). While a 10% base tariff relief was extended to most other US trading partners for a 90-day period, both Canada and Mexico were notably excluded, heightening the economic impact.

In response, Carney announced new measures to decrease Canadian dependence on US markets, particularly in the lumber and technology sectors. On Tuesday, he revealed that Canada would scale back engagement with US tech firms and invest in strengthening domestic alternatives, as part of what he called a broader plan to "Trump-proof" the country's economy.

Sovereignty defense

Carney's campaign has increasingly focused on countering what he describes as Trump's "expansionist ambition." In a major address in Toronto earlier this month, the Prime Minister said, "In this crisis we have to prepare for America's threats to our very sovereignty. They want our land, our resources, they want our water, they want our country."

To that end, Carney has outlined a national defense and economic strategy centered on increasing military spending, particularly in the Arctic, and building new partnerships with Europe, Asia, MERCOSUR, and ASEAN. His plan includes C$30.9 billion in defense investment over four years, aiming to meet NATO's 2% target by 2030 and bolster Canada's strategic independence.

"We need to come together so we can fight President Trump together, because President Trump wants to divide us," Carney urged, calling for national unity in what he portrayed as a defining moment for Canadian sovereignty.

With election day approaching on April 28, the Carney government is pitching its response to the Trump-era challenges as not only essential but existential, asserting that Canada must act now to protect its independence in the face of mounting US pressure.