Canada’s ambassador to France, Stéphane Dion, has denounced U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statements regarding potential territorial expansions, asserting that such threats contravene international law. Dion emphasized that “in order to respect international law, you don’t threaten your neighbours by invasion.”
President Trump has indicated he would not dismiss the use of military force to acquire Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. Additionally, he has proposed the idea of Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, a notion he reiterated after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested that Trump was serious about annexation.
In response to inquiries about Greenland, Dion highlighted that such threats are abnormal and violate the United Nations Charter, noting that merely threatening invasion breaches international law.
These developments coincide with President Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, including those from Canada. This move has prompted Canada and European nations to collaborate on a unified strategy to address the escalating trade tensions. Dion remarked, “Canada and Mexico are the first ones, but Europeans know that they may be targeted as well. We’re anticipating that. They are working with us about how can we have a cohesive way to convince the U.S. administration that trade wars are painful for everyone… and not something that you should do between friends.”
Prime Minister Trudeau is currently in Paris attending a global summit on artificial intelligence. Following a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron, Trudeau did not respond to reporters’ questions regarding President Trump’s statements.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance is also present in Paris for the AI Action Summit. As of now, no meeting between Vance and Trudeau has been announced.
Last week, both Canada and Mexico received month-long reprieves from the threatened broad-based tariffs. Looking ahead, Prime Minister Trudeau is scheduled to travel to Brussels to meet with European Union leaders, aiming to strengthen Canada’s relationship with the EU amidst the current tensions.
Dion underscored the importance of trade diversification, stating that Canada won’t be successful in this endeavor unless it includes Europe. He added, “Now that we see that unfortunately, for now at least, the U.S. administration is not as reliable as we thought, not respecting treaties as we thought, we need Europeans and Canadians to work very closely together.”
These remarks from Canada’s ambassador reflect growing international concern over President Trump’s assertive foreign policy stance, which has included suggestions of acquiring territories such as Greenland and the Panama Canal, as well as proposing the annexation of Canada. Such rhetoric has raised alarms among European officials, who, while cautious, do not anticipate immediate U.S. military action but remain vigilant about the potential implications for international stability.
Analysts warn that President Trump’s approach could strain U.S.-European relations, impact NATO solidarity, and challenge established international norms. His suggestions appear to focus on securing strategic resources and waterways to bolster U.S. security, reflecting competitive dynamics with nations like China. However, there are concerns that this approach could lead to increased global conflicts and instability.
In a related development, Russia has issued a warning to President Trump regarding his ambitions to acquire Greenland. Russia’s spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, criticized European countries’ muted reactions to Trump’s statements, highlighting the potential for geopolitical clashes over the Arctic region.
