The American president-elect is increasing his bravado against neighboring countries: he wants to make Canada the 51st American state, after other provocations. The reactions are outraged and concerned. “Who will defend the post-1945 order?” asks Guy Verhofstadt.
Donald Trump, whose official inauguration will take place on January 20, is firing on all cylinders. Latest provocation to date? The future American president threatened to use “economic force” against Canada, after having affirmed the day before that it was in the interest of this ally of the United States to become the American “51st State”. Nothing less.
On social networks, he has already published a map… of the United States including Canada.
“Never ever”
Needless to say, this makes his neighbor cringe. “Never, ever, will Canada be part of the United Statesoutraged Justin Trudeau, the Canadian Liberal Prime Minister, who has just announced his upcoming resignation. Workers and communities in our two countries benefit from being each other’s greatest trading and security partners.”
“President-elect Trump’s comments demonstrate total incomprehension of what makes Canada a strong country, continues Mélanie Joly, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Our economy is strong. Our people are strong. We will never back down from threats.”
“A Putin”
“The Americans elected a Putin, twice” alerts a journalist from Globe.
Donald Trump also refused on Tuesday to rule out the idea of using force to annex the Panama Canal and Greenland, saying it is essential for the security of the United States. “I can’t assure you of either of them.“, declared the president-elect, questioned about a possible use of armed forces to annex the canal, a vital artery of global maritime transport, and Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark.
“Who will defend the post-1945 order?”
With his ally, entrepreneur Elon Musk, Donald Trump multiplies the provocations likely to shake up the world order. He also affirmed his wish to rename the “Gulf of Mexico” as the “Gulf of America”.
Guy Verhofstadt, our former Prime Minister, now president of the International European Movement, warns: “Trump wants to buy Greenland, Musk wants to decide who governs Germany and the United Kingdom. Putin invades European countries. Foreign billionaires look at a map, dreaming of dividing the world. Who will defend the post-1945 order?“
That’s a good question.
