In a wide-ranging speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, US President Donald Trump has taken aim at Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, claiming that “Canada lives because of the United States.” The comments come after Carney warned in his own Davos address that global diplomacy is currently in the “midst of a rupture.”
Trump accused Carney of being “ungrateful,” stating that Canada benefits from numerous “freebies” provided by the US and “should be grateful.” The US president doubled down on his previous calls for Canada to join the US as the “51st state,” a proposal that has drawn sharp rebukes and strained relations between the two North American neighbors.
Addressing the global audience, Trump declared that “no nation can secure Greenland other than the US,” reiterating his administration’s interest in acquiring the island territory. However, he insisted that he will not use force to annex Greenland, despite previous reports of his administration’s fixation on Canada’s “vulnerability” to foreign adversaries.
Turning his attention to Europe, Trump described the continent as “unrecognizable” due to immigration, echoing rhetoric commonly used by the European and American far-right. He stated that he “loves Europe” but believes it is “not heading in the right direction.”
The president’s comments come amid ongoing tensions between the US and its allies, with Carney warning in his Davos speech that global diplomacy is facing a “rupture.” Trump’s latest remarks are likely to further strain relations between the US and its northern neighbor, as he continues to make controversial claims about Canada’s reliance on American protection.
