[Text/Observer Network Lin Chenli] According to reports by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Bloomberg, and other media outlets, local time on April 24, Canadian Prime Minister Carney admitted that during the phone call between the two leaders on March 28, US President Trump raised the possibility of Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States. Carney previously claimed that Trump "respected" Canada's sovereignty during the call.

On that day, Carney was conducting a campaign event in the province of British Columbia when he was repeatedly questioned by reporters about related issues. He said, "President Trump has brought up this issue many times, he mentioned it yesterday, and he has mentioned it before. He indeed did so during the call, and these are ideas he has in his mind. This is not news."

Carney explained that during the call, Trump mentioned many things, but the substance of the discussion and the direction of the dialogue were completely consistent with what he had previously stated. "President Trump has some ideas in his mind, and he often brings them up. We discussed as sovereign nations. And as sovereign nations, we agreed that these negotiations would begin after next Monday's election."

He insisted that any negotiations with Trump would take place on the basis of two sovereign nations. "It needs to be clear that, as I have said to anyone who has raised this issue privately or publicly, including President Trump, such a thing will never happen."

When asked if Trump respected Canada's sovereignty during the call, Carney replied, "He respects it, absolutely respects it." Carney also pointed out that Trump referred to him as "Prime Minister," rather than calling him "Governor," as he had done with former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau in the past.

Local time on April 24, Carney held a campaign event in the province of British Columbia. Video screenshot

Canada will hold its election on local time April 28. Trump's tariff policies and the idea of making Canada part of the United States have become key issues in the campaign.

On March 28, Carney had his first call with Trump. On the same day, when first asked to describe the tone of his conversation with Trump, Carney said it was "friendly" and "positive," and claimed that Trump "respected" Canada's sovereignty in both private and public remarks.

At that time, Carney did not mention that Trump had brought up the idea of making Canada the 51st state of the United States during the call. However, two知情人士 told CBC this week that the issue of Canadian sovereignty was actually raised in the first part of the conversation, where Trump outlined various benefits of Canada joining the United States.

The sources said that Carney let Trump finish speaking before expressing his differing opinions. One of the sources described that moment as "not very comfortable," and finally Carney said, "Let's agree to disagree on this issue."

A spokesperson for the Canadian Prime Minister's Office denied in a statement that Carney had responded with "let's agree to disagree." The statement said, "No, the Prime Minister did not say these words to President Trump, and he has always clearly stated that the possibility of Canada becoming part of the United States does not exist and will never exist."

In addition, Carney said on the 24th that Canada does not need to quickly reach a trade agreement with Trump; Canada has enough leverage in negotiations and can wait longer if necessary.

Carney said that if he wins the election next Monday, he will focus on reducing domestic trade barriers, stimulating housing construction, and developing resource projects to promote domestic economic development. These measures will buy time for Canada's negotiations with Trump and "provide leverage for Canada in the negotiations."

On April 23 local time, Trump praised Carney, calling him "very friendly," but reiterated America's "sovereignty" over Canada again.

"Frankly speaking, he operates very well as a state. As a country—just think about it, 95% of what they do as a country is buying from us and selling to us," Trump said, adding that if Canada does not trade with the U.S., "as Trudeau told me, Canada will cease to exist."

White House Press Secretary Lettieri said last week that Trump's position has not changed, and he "believes that Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States will greatly benefit the people."

Although Trump said at the White House on the 23rd that he is "not suitable to intervene in their election," the BBC analyzed that the election triggered by Trudeau's resignation subsequently changed the campaign landscape due to unprecedented intervention by Trump.

The BBC stated that in the face of threats from the neighboring country, Canadians are abandoning small parties such as the Bloc Quebecois, the New Democratic Party, and the Green Party, supporting either the Liberal Party or the Conservative Party. Carney is trying to portray himself as the leader most capable of helping Canada weather the crisis, while Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre is positioning himself as a transformative candidate who can fulfill the "Canadian promise."

The Economist predicted on April 23 that Carney, by portraying himself as the top opponent of Trump known as "Captain Canada," is erasing the support gap caused by public dissatisfaction with Trudeau among the Liberal Party, and is expected to win a parliamentary majority with an 86% probability. A new poll by CBC shows that the Liberals are slightly ahead of the Conservatives, but the gap is narrowing.

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7497080020507083314/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author. Feel free to express your attitude by clicking the "thumbs up/thumbs down" buttons below.