By Kolawole Ojebisi
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has stated that his country is not for sale, a notion reaffirming Justin Trudeau, his predecessor’s position concerning Donald Trump’s repeated calls to make Canada the 51st US state.
Carney made this assertion during his meeting with Trump at the White House on Tuesday amid tensions on tariffs and sovereignty, stressing that Canada is “never for sale”
Trump had for the umpteenth time, in his first Oval Office meeting with the recently elected Carney, reiterated that it would be a “wonderful marriage” if Canada agreed to become the 51st US state.
But despite Trump’s claims of friendly relations, the body language became increasingly tense between the 78-year-old Republican and the 60-year-old Canadian leader.
“As you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” Carney told property tycoon Trump, comparing Canada to the Oval Office itself and to Britain’s Buckingham Palace.
“Having met with the owners of Canada throughout the campaign in the last several months, it’s not for sale. It won’t be for sale, ever.”
Trump then replied: “Never say never.”
“Respectfully, Canadians’ view on this is not going to change on the 51st state,” replied Carney.
Recall that Carney won the Canadian election of April 28 on a pledge to stand up to Trump, warning that ties between the North American neighbors could never be the same.
Trump has sparked a major trade war with Canada with his tariffs while repeatedly making extraordinary calls for the key NATO ally and major trading partner to become part of the United States.
However, the rumuored frosty relationship between the duo thawed and gave way to cordial reception as both leaders began their meeting with warm words towards each other.
Twice-elected Trump hailed Carney, whose Liberal Party surged from behind to win the election, for “one of the greatest comebacks in the history of politics, maybe even greater than mine.”
But while they expressed a willingness to work towards a trade deal to end the tariffs, it became clear that common ground would be hard to find.
By his stance at the White House, Carney fulfilled his promise to his people in the buildup to the April election when he stated that the United States would never “own us.”
