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Trump began with taunts that Canada would become the "51st state" and its prime minister the "51st governor." What followed was needless hostility that weakened economic ties and now threatens military cooperation. Instead of provoking America's closest ally, Trump should have chosen diplomacy, respect and strategic partnership. Cooler, wiser minds are needed to rebuild trust.
The PJBD survived world wars, the Cold War, 9/11 and decades of changing leadership on both sides of the border. Yet the 86-year-old alliance did not survive one year of Mark Carney and his Davos-era messaging. Canada is paying the price for ignoring warnings about drifting from its closest ally, risking economic stability, continental security and long-standing trust.
There's a 6% chance that the U.S. will annex any part of Canada before June 3, 2072, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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