New PM Carney says Canada will never be part of US

Canada’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly rejected any notion of his country becoming part of the United States, directly responding to President Donald Trump’s threats of annexation.  

“Canada will never, ever, in any way, shape, or form, be part of the United States,” Carney declared on Friday, shortly after taking office as the country’s 24th prime minister, replacing Justin Trudeau. He emphasized that confronting US tariffs would be a key priority, while also expressing hope for future cooperation with Washington on shared interests.  

Rising US-Canada Tensions
Since Trump’s return to power in January, Ottawa has faced increasing pressure from the White House, including a trade war and demands that Canada cede its sovereignty to become the 51st US state. In response, Canada has implemented retaliatory tariffs, and public sentiment has turned sharply against the US president’s calls to erase the border between the two nations.  

Carney has labeled the Trump administration as the greatest challenge Canada has faced in a generation, describing US tariffs on Canadian goods as unjustified. His government is expected to arrange a call with Trump in the coming days to discuss the escalating tensions.  

Carney’s Political Test Ahead
A former central banker with no prior experience in elected office, Carney overwhelmingly won the Liberal Party’s leadership contest to succeed Trudeau. However, he may soon face a general election, as government sources indicate Canada is heading to the polls within weeks.  

While opposition Conservatives portray him as an elitist disconnected from ordinary Canadians, Carney argues that his international experience equips him to navigate the economic fallout of deteriorating US-Canada relations.  

“Carney is arriving at a good time. He has emerged as a figure people seem to trust to take on Donald Trump,” said Felix Mathieu, a political science professor at the University of Winnipeg.  

Diplomatic and Economic Priorities
Carney is set to visit Paris and London next week to strengthen Canada’s global alliances amid growing uncertainty in its relationship with the US. Discussions will center on trade and security, with European leaders, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, already voicing support for closer EU-Canada ties.  

On the domestic front, Carney has moved swiftly to distinguish his administration from Trudeau’s, despite keeping much of the previous cabinet in place. While he has pledged to address climate change, his first executive action was scrapping Trudeau’s controversial carbon tax on individuals and families, instead advocating for market-driven environmental solutions.  

During a visit to a steel plant in Hamilton, Ontario—the heart of Canada’s industrial sector—Carney reinforced his stance on trade, stating he is open to negotiations with Trump but insists that any deal must uphold “respect for Canadian sovereignty.”  

As Canada braces for both economic and political challenges ahead, Carney’s leadership will be tested in navigating tensions with its historically closest ally while preparing for an imminent electoral battle at home.