U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra recently reposted a post by Trump, reigniting diplomatic friction between the two countries. In the post, Trump referred to Canada as the "51st state!" and attached an article about Canada's economic troubles. Hoekstra's repost was seen as an open endorsement of Trump's apparent intention to absorb Canada into the United States.
In recent years, Trump has repeatedly made public remarks suggesting that Canada should become a U.S. state—remarks that have long frustrated Ottawa. In March this year, Trump even joked that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would be the "governor of the future Canadian state." Canada has historically been one of America's closest partners, and such comments continue to escalate tensions between the two nations.
Hoekstra’s recent repost was not an isolated incident. In January this year, he publicly intervened in the U.S.-Canada dispute over F-35 fighter jet procurement, implying that if Canada did not purchase the aircraft, defense cooperation between the two nations “would have to change.”
In response, Ontario Premier Doug Ford strongly pushed back on social media: “I can’t believe I have to say it again, but Canada will never become the 51st state.” He added, “Canada is not for sale,” citing that Ontario created jobs at a rate 680% higher than the U.S. on a per capita basis in April as proof of Canada’s substantial economic strength.
This latest exchange underscores that despite being traditional allies, Trump and certain political forces aligned with him continue to test the limits of the U.S.-Canada relationship, while Canada is increasingly asserting its sovereignty with greater determination.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866922597580807/
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