New Delhi: Responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s supply of a shiny new missile protection system to Canada free of charge if it agreed to develop into the 51st state of America, Minister Mark Carney’s workplace issued a well mannered however agency “thanks, however no thanks”, which, in Canadian political language, is roughly equal to slamming the door and double-locking it.
“Canada is a proud and impartial nation and has no plans to surrender its sovereignty,” learn the assertion, which in some way managed to withstand including “eh?” on the finish for emphasis. CTV caught the quote like a hockey puck to the chest.
Right here is the deal – Trump’s “Golden Dome”, a reputation that appears like a Bond villain’s secret lair or a fast-food burger, would allegedly defend North America from missile assaults and price a breezy $175 billion. The kicker? Canada may both pony up $61 billion to remain impartial or hop aboard the American statehood prepare and get in free of charge. Like a Costco membership, however with nukes.
In basic campaign-style aptitude, Trump laid it out, “If Canada desires to be a part of the Golden Dome, they’ll pay or they’ll develop into a U.S. state and get it free of charge.”
One assumes he thought Canadians would leap on the probability to swap the Maple Leaf for a Mississippi zip code.
Trump additionally dusted off an previous favourite, criticizing Canada’s protection spending, and advised that true safety solely comes both by way of a giant test or becoming a member of Workforce America, World Police version.
After all, Canada and the U.S. already share continental protection duties by way of NORAD, a long-standing binational settlement that’s principally probably the most cordial joint safety operation since Batman and Robin.
Canada lately doubled down on this partnership with a C$6 billion radar improve take care of Australia, as a result of nothing says “impartial” like outsourcing your Arctic eyeballs to the Aussies.
Canadian officers labeled Trump’s supply as “unserious”, which in Canadian diplomacy is simply a half-step away from calling somebody a “device”. They reiterated that any collaboration on missile protection could be based mostly on issues like mutual respect and nationwide dignity – not free stuff tied to annexation.
The bipartisan response in Canada was swift and unanimous – the concept of changing into a U.S. state was handled with all the keenness of a shock root canal. Analysts and politicians alike slammed the proposal as tone-deaf, unrealistic and admittedly insulting to Canada’s identification – which incorporates, however just isn’t restricted to, poutine and well mannered disagreement and never being American.
Whereas the concept of a Golden Dome glittering throughout North America may sound like a sci-fi fantasy with higher particular results than most Trump proposals, one factor is evident – Canada’s not buying and selling its sovereignty for a seat on the Pentagon’s lunch desk.