Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada, has made it clear that he is not “impressed” by the recent invitation the UK made to Donald Trump for a second state visit. Carney says that the UK’s invitation did not help Canadians, who have faced repeated comments about making Canada the U.S.’s 51st state. Back in February, while visiting the White House, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer invited Trump to visit the U.K. again.
Prime Minister Comments
“To be frank, [Canadians] weren’t impressed by that gesture… given the circumstance,” he said. “It was at a time when we were being quite clear about the issues around sovereignty.” When Carney was asked if he felt the invitation was appropriate, the prime minister said that was a decision to be made by the UK government and Buckingham Palace. However, Buckingham Palace replied that it was a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Royal Visit Planned
Carney’s criticism comes at a time when Canada is preparing for a visit from King Charles III and Queen Camilla for a royal visit at the end of May. Carney then added that his invitation for the King – Canada’s head of state – to attend the opening of Canada’s Parliament “is not coincidental. It is also a reaffirming moment, will be a reaffirming,” the prime minister said, saying issues around Canada’s sovereignty have been “accentuated by the president.”
It has been reported that during King Charles III’s visit, he will make a speech from the throne, which is usually something only done by the governor general. The last time this occurred was in the fall of 1977 when Queen Elizabeth II read her second speech in Canadian history. Her first was back in 1957.
Trump’s Attempts To Undermine Canada
Since Trump moved back into the White House for his second term, he has repeatedly attempted to undermine Canada’s sovereignty. He has referred to Canada’s border as an “artificially drawn line.” Despite Trump’s repeated comments, Carney has made it clear that Canada is not for sale.
Carney has also been clear that he has no intention of meeting with Trump again until “we get the respect that we deserve.” Carney did sit down with Trump last week to try to negotiate a secure relationship and talk trade.
Canada Will Never Be the 51st State
During the Oval Office meeting, Trump again brought up making Canada the 51st state. At one point, the prime minister did not reply to Trump but instead looked directly into the camera and mouthed the word “never.” Carney has said that Trump’s pressure to bring Canada in as a part of the U.S. has changed slightly from “expectation to desire for that to happen. He also came from a place where he recognized that was not going to happen,” Carney added.
