I think there are three things behind Trump's tough stance on Canada that are not being talked about much. First, he wants Trudeau gone. Trudeau positioned himself as the anti-Trump at the start of his career and I think on a personal level Trump hates the guy and he pushes back on everything Trump wants from Canada.
Second, and this has some merit, security concerns. It's not just that Canada watches the north side of our border but Canada has been the worst offender of underspending on defense, averaging less than 1.5% and even unde pressure from European allies Trudeau has been defiant. You can argue that we should not have to worry about Europe cause we got an ocean between us but there are some conversations about whether of not Russia or China could attack the US by crossing the Artic and coming from the north. So this could be an extension of his NATO rhetoric but tougher because this is our neighbor.
The third is he wants to bring energy costs down and stop counting on nations so far away. Canada is close and has abundant resources so if they had an energy policy that aligned with ours there coud be a US-Canada energy alliance that dominants the market. You cna circle this and the defense issue back to the first, Trump wants Trudeau gone and to negotiate with a guy like Poilievre who is more aligned with him on energy and defense.
Also, take all this and apply it to Greenland. I don't think Trump seriously wants to annex Canada and Greenland but thinks they are weak and uncooperative neighbors that put the US at risk.
I think there are three things behind Trump's tough stance on Canada that are not being talked about much. First, he wants Trudeau gone. Trudeau positioned himself as the anti-Trump at the start of his career and I think on a personal level Trump hates the guy and he pushes back on everything Trump wants from Canada.
Second, and this has some merit, security concerns. It's not just that Canada watches the north side of our border but Canada has been the worst offender of underspending on defense, averaging less than 1.5% and even unde pressure from European allies Trudeau has been defiant. You can argue that we should not have to worry about Europe cause we got an ocean between us but there are some conversations about whether of not Russia or China could attack the US by crossing the Artic and coming from the north. So this could be an extension of his NATO rhetoric but tougher because this is our neighbor.
The third is he wants to bring energy costs down and stop counting on nations so far away. Canada is close and has abundant resources so if they had an energy policy that aligned with ours there coud be a US-Canada energy alliance that dominants the market. You cna circle this and the defense issue back to the first, Trump wants Trudeau gone and to negotiate with a guy like Poilievre who is more aligned with him on energy and defense.
Also, take all this and apply it to Greenland. I don't think Trump seriously wants to annex Canada and Greenland but thinks they are weak and uncooperative neighbors that put the US at risk.