Canada raises alarm at G7, warning ‘Nobody is safe’ from Trump’s tactics
As the U.S. participates in a foreign ministers' gathering in Quebec, Mélanie Joly cautions her counterparts, stating that they are next.
TroibNews 
OTTAWA — Foreign Minister Mélanie Joly is set to greet her G7 counterparts in Charlevoix, Quebec, with a pointed message: “If the U.S. can do this to us, their closest friend, then nobody is safe.”
While Canada hosts the G7 foreign ministers this week, the official discussions will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East, Haiti, and Venezuela, but will not address President Donald Trump’s trade war or threats to sovereignty. Nevertheless, Joly informed reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday that she intends to broach these topics with her European and British colleagues, emphasizing that “Canada is the canary in the coal mine.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive after negotiations for a 30-day truce between Russia and Ukraine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In a statement from Ireland on Wednesday, Rubio highlighted the diverse agenda G7 leaders will tackle upon their gathering. “It is not a meeting about how we’re going to take over Canada,” he said.
Despite the ongoing trade tensions stemming from Trump’s hefty tariffs on Canada, Joly is taking action. She has scheduled a meeting with Rubio on Thursday morning to exert “maximum pressure” in defense of Canada’s sovereignty and way of life.
“We have done nothing to justify Trump’s attacks on our country, on our economy and our identity,” Joly stated, asserting, “Canada is your best friend, best neighbor and best ally.”
Rubio expressed that he anticipates a “constructive way” for the U.S. to work with its allies during the G7 discussions.
However, many Canadians feel increasingly abandoned by the U.S., with some labeling it an “enemy country.”
This bilateral meeting comes at a time of heightened trade conflict, particularly following Trump’s announcement of a 25 percent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum. This marks the latest development in a series of trade threats and declarations.
In a fierce address in Ottawa, Joly condemned Trump’s tariffs as a guise for economic coercion aimed at Canada. In response, Canada has also initiated new counter-tariffs impacting approximately $20 billion worth of American goods.
“The only constant in this unjustifiable trade war seems to be President Trump’s talks of annexing our country through economic coercion,” Joly remarked. “He called our border a fictional line and repeated his disrespectful 51st state rhetoric. Well, Canadians have made it very clear that we will not back down, and we will not give in to this coercion.”
As far as Canada’s sovereignty is concerned, Joly plans to use the G7 platform to explore new avenues for collaboration with Europe regarding military exercises and defense procurement. Rubio, meanwhile, indicated he aims to focus discussions on issues such as Ukraine and NORAD’s role in defending North America.
This week, Trump reiterated his controversial view that the U.S.-Canada border is an “artificial line,” comparing it to something drawn “with a ruler.”
“When you take away that, and you look at that beautiful formation of Canada and the United States, there’s no place anywhere in the world that looks like that,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Rubio played down Trump’s annexation remarks, suggesting that Trump envisions Canada as the 51st state purely from an economic perspective.
“He says if they became the 51st state, we wouldn’t have to worry about the border and fentanyl coming across because now we would be able to manage that,” he elaborated.
Joly is spearheading Canada’s response to the tariffs alongside Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, with the nation preparing for a transition in leadership. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been busy wrapping up his office throughout the week.
Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney has labeled Trump’s trade challenges an “economic and sovereign crisis” and has pledged to prevent the president from achieving his aim of “dominating the hemisphere” by taking control of Canada and Greenland.
“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country,” he cautioned on Sunday after winning the race to succeed Trudeau. “Think about it. If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life.”
In his farewell address, Trudeau reflected on Canada’s pivotal moment. “Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given,” he stated.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
While Canada hosts the G7 foreign ministers this week, the official discussions will focus on Ukraine, the Middle East, Haiti, and Venezuela, but will not address President Donald Trump’s trade war or threats to sovereignty. Nevertheless, Joly informed reporters in Ottawa on Wednesday that she intends to broach these topics with her European and British colleagues, emphasizing that “Canada is the canary in the coal mine.”
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to arrive after negotiations for a 30-day truce between Russia and Ukraine in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
In a statement from Ireland on Wednesday, Rubio highlighted the diverse agenda G7 leaders will tackle upon their gathering. “It is not a meeting about how we’re going to take over Canada,” he said.
Despite the ongoing trade tensions stemming from Trump’s hefty tariffs on Canada, Joly is taking action. She has scheduled a meeting with Rubio on Thursday morning to exert “maximum pressure” in defense of Canada’s sovereignty and way of life.
“We have done nothing to justify Trump’s attacks on our country, on our economy and our identity,” Joly stated, asserting, “Canada is your best friend, best neighbor and best ally.”
Rubio expressed that he anticipates a “constructive way” for the U.S. to work with its allies during the G7 discussions.
However, many Canadians feel increasingly abandoned by the U.S., with some labeling it an “enemy country.”
This bilateral meeting comes at a time of heightened trade conflict, particularly following Trump’s announcement of a 25 percent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminum. This marks the latest development in a series of trade threats and declarations.
In a fierce address in Ottawa, Joly condemned Trump’s tariffs as a guise for economic coercion aimed at Canada. In response, Canada has also initiated new counter-tariffs impacting approximately $20 billion worth of American goods.
“The only constant in this unjustifiable trade war seems to be President Trump’s talks of annexing our country through economic coercion,” Joly remarked. “He called our border a fictional line and repeated his disrespectful 51st state rhetoric. Well, Canadians have made it very clear that we will not back down, and we will not give in to this coercion.”
As far as Canada’s sovereignty is concerned, Joly plans to use the G7 platform to explore new avenues for collaboration with Europe regarding military exercises and defense procurement. Rubio, meanwhile, indicated he aims to focus discussions on issues such as Ukraine and NORAD’s role in defending North America.
This week, Trump reiterated his controversial view that the U.S.-Canada border is an “artificial line,” comparing it to something drawn “with a ruler.”
“When you take away that, and you look at that beautiful formation of Canada and the United States, there’s no place anywhere in the world that looks like that,” Trump said on Tuesday.
Rubio played down Trump’s annexation remarks, suggesting that Trump envisions Canada as the 51st state purely from an economic perspective.
“He says if they became the 51st state, we wouldn’t have to worry about the border and fentanyl coming across because now we would be able to manage that,” he elaborated.
Joly is spearheading Canada’s response to the tariffs alongside Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc, with the nation preparing for a transition in leadership. Outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been busy wrapping up his office throughout the week.
Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney has labeled Trump’s trade challenges an “economic and sovereign crisis” and has pledged to prevent the president from achieving his aim of “dominating the hemisphere” by taking control of Canada and Greenland.
“The Americans want our resources, our water, our land, our country,” he cautioned on Sunday after winning the race to succeed Trudeau. “Think about it. If they succeed, they will destroy our way of life.”
In his farewell address, Trudeau reflected on Canada’s pivotal moment. “Democracy is not a given. Freedom is not a given. Even Canada is not a given,” he stated.
Ramin Sohrabi for TROIB News
