As a Canadian, Donald Trump’s address to the American Congress left me absolutely terrified. I closed my eyes and heard Adolf Hitler. The resounding applause and cheers and jeers from the, shall we say, psycho-phantic Republican side of the House was beyond nauseating.
Canada is geographically situated between two formidable next door neighbors: the United States of America and the Russian Federation. Until recently, Canadians considered only one of those nations to be an existential threat to our sovereignty and way of life. But now Trump, Elon Musk, and others in the current American administration are wholly aligned with Russia and against world democracies.
Team Trump put a great many demands on the table unrelated to current trade issues. These included designs on Canada’s fresh water.
I’m sure many Canadians now have genuine fears that the United States is conspiring to bring Canada to its knees economically, with designs to invade our weakened country. One can only assume, not speculate, that madman Trump has been conspiring with America’s new best friend, Russia, to, among other deviant intentions, divvy up the Canadian arctic between them. While Europe is preoccupied with its own renewed security concerns, and the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine. Call me crazy.
It is a point of fact that for many years, both the U.S. and Russia have suggested that they do not recognize Canada’s sovereignty over our territories and waterways of the Canadian Arctic, especially since global warming has begun to open the trade route potential of our Northwest Passage. America’s designs on our Arctic became clear during the George W. Bush administration. Mr. Bush was quite outspoken about it.
Respect Missing
Trump’s recent imperialistic posture and astounding lack of diplomacy and respect for America’s steadfast ally, Canada, and his pathetic insults aimed at our Prime Minister have left me shuddering.
Trump’s on-and-off 25% tariffs on Canadian goods are no way to treat a loyal ally.
In the second Trump administration the art of the steal is at play once again. Compounding my fears are Trump’s stated designs on Canada’s natural resources, Greenland and the Panama Canal.
Canada’s talented and steadfast Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, has been very candid about the tenure and substance of behind-the-scenes trade talks with Trump and key U.S. administration players.
Joly has stated that Team Trump put a great many demands on the table unrelated to current trade issues. These included designs on Canada’s fresh water.
Her public comments also suggest that Trump is threatening to cease the sharing of “security and intelligence” with Canada, even ending the military alliance between our two nations if we Canadians don’t capitulate on Trump’s trade demands. This is a shockingly similar stance to Trump’s policies on Ukraine.
Trump’s unquestionable admiration for, and fealty to, Vladimir Putin, has seen America’s president repeatedly parrot Kremlin talking points. Our outgoing prime minister, Justin Trudeau, properly calls Putin “a lying, murderous dictator.”
National Identity
A people’s psyche develops because of innumerable experiences across an expanse of time. Collective self-awareness, formed in part by pivotal events in a nation’s history.
Canadians are acutely aware that the United States is the only country to invade Canada , during the War of 1812.
Three weeks ago, 11 of our provincial premiers, roughly the equivalent of American state governors, visited Capitol Hill to ask members of Congress if they believed Trump would send troops to invade Canada, forcing it to become the 51st state. No ally should ever have to contemplate such potential aggression.
Despite our longstanding admiration and respect for your great nation and its people, and the close friendship we have nurtured for more than 200 years, from time-to-time Canadians reasonably remain more than a little suspicious. Trump has us glancing over our shoulder, not the least when his White House puts out images of him wearing a crown with the caption “Long live the king.”
With that in mind, perhaps the American people—for whom we harbor no animosity—will forgive, if not appreciate, that America’s staunchest ally must prepare to react swiftly and decisively when we are threatened.
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