Carney and Trump are only at the beginning of redefining the relationship between Canada and the United States

In 2013, when he was running to dismiss a conservative government, Justin Trudeau He said There were “very few things that the Prime Minister in Canada needed right,” one of which was “building a constructive working relationship with the President of the United States.”

This was of course a long time before the President of the United States was Donald Trump – a long time before the President’s idea like Trump was remotely. (Trudeau’s criticism at the time was that Stephen Harper exposed the relationship with Barack Obama, at the expense of the Keystone XL pipeline.)

In 2025, amid the truth of Trump’s second term, the question of the new prime minister is what the “constructive work relationship” now – or even how any constructive relationship could be.

Two days before Mark Carney went to the White House, Trump was to request By host Meet Whether he will consider using military force against this country. He did not say that the idea could not be conceived, abusive or abundant. He just said he believed he was “very unlikely.”

In 2013, this type of comment may have dominated all discussions for several days. In 2025, it only deserves to be passed.

Only moments before Carney arrived on Tuesday, Trump posted his social media platform The wrong claim The United States “supports Canada by $ 200 billion a year.” His repetition of his insistence that trade with Canada is very unnecessary, Trump wrote that we do not need their cars, do not need their energy, do not need their wood, and we do not need anything they have, unlike their friendship. “

Then came a scene made for the meeting of the Oval Office-the fabricated appearances in front of the cameras that have become things of sharp magic since Trump and many members of the Council of Ministers Ukrainian President Foludmir Zelinski in February.

Oval Office Show

The credit for the electoral result of the liberal party and the pride on how to re -decorate the Oval Office, Trump was free for Carney. Carney, in turn, referred to Trump as a “transformative president” – an accurate selected adjective – and stressed that Canada and the United States are “stronger when we work together.”

Throughout the half an hour that followed-Trump also talked about not only Canada, but various other topics, including his grievances with Trudeau and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Christia Freeland-start that Carney decided in real time how to walk on the line between sticking to his country and provoking a televised detonation. But the Prime Minister appeared to be ready to provide at least one point if Trump repeated his desire to make Canada in the state 51.

Carney said: “If I am permissible, as you know from real estate, there are some places that are never for sale,” Carney said.

“This is true,” Trump said.

“He met Canada’s owners throughout the campaign, the past few months are not for sale, it will not be for sale at all.”

Twenty minutes later, after Trump refused to leave it completely decreased – “Never less,” he said in a few points – Carney confirmed his point of view.

“With respect, the Canadians will not change about this,” Carney said.

There were other moments of precise decline, but the moment of the main title per day was the prime minister’s statement of concept This country is not for sale – A great statement of the fact that it must be said.

There is only everything else needs a settlement.

“Return the relationship”

No matter how different the occupation of the Oval Office, the basic economic and security facts remain the same. Consequently, this country and the Prime Minister still need to maintain a working relationship with the United States and its president.

Even in a world in which Canada is building new alliances and the diversity of its trade, it will remain necessary – and it is preferable for Canada and the United States to work together in some capabilities (most likely some important capabilities).

But the new parameters of this relationship are still unclear.

In response to a question about whether there is anything that Carney could do to persuade the United States to drop the customs tariff on Canadian goods, Trump simply said, “No.” When asked about the concessions he was looking for from Canada, Trump only said, “friendship.”

Trump suggested that he wanted to reach a place where the United States did not buy any vehicles made in Canada – which appears to be completely not completely separating from the completely integrated car sector. The president said he did not want to import any steel or aluminum from Canada. He referred to the commercial deal he signed with Canada in Mexico in 2019 as “good” and “transitional”.

At least, Trump seemed to get rid of his northern neighbor to his country.

“Regardless of anything, we will be friends with Canada,” he said.

Not all Canadians are fully agreed with these feelings at the present time.

Speaking to journalists at the Canadian embassy after a work lunch with the president and his team, Carney said that the two sides were “constructive” and “broad -scale.” He said he was “encouraging” through “concrete” conversation.

But Carney also started the availability of the media by saying, “Today he celebrated the end of the process of the process of the United States and Canada to redefine this relationship between work together.” In addition to emphasizing its central hypothesis – that the ancient relationship of Canada with the United States “is over” – this was a passing reference to Something said Winston Churchill After the second battle of two paintings, the victory of the allies, which came when the Second World War was still three years away from the end.

In other words, there is a long way – and much more to know what can be settled in the afternoon in the White House.