Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said during a lengthy interview this week that he has prepared for the possibility, however unlikely, of a U.S. incursion onto Canadian soil.
The stunning remarks come as President Donald Trump has increased his provocations of America’s northern neighbor and embarked on a bitter trade war that has prompted a strong response from Carney.
Trump has repeatedly called for Canada to become the 51st state, including posting pictures on social media that depict Canada as part of the United States or sharing a map of North America draped in the U.S. flag. The president also signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario “Lake America” last month.
“I think you have a responsibility in these roles to look at extreme tail risk,” Carney, who has emerged as one of the world’s most prominent voices challenging Trump, told The New York Times during an interview on Wednesday. “That’s just risk management. That’s not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to.”
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While Carney, a former banker and economist, did not detail what considerations had been taken into account, he said that Canada and the U.S. maintain an open line of communication.
“We have a good relationship in the sense of we can pick up the phone and talk to each other about issues,” Carney said. “That exists and that will continue to exist.”
The U.S. entered a tit-for-tat trade war with Canada after economic talks between the two countries collapsed this summer. A new round of steep tariffs — which reached 50% for certain products in late August — has been unpopular among both Republicans in the U.S. and Canadian residents, many of whom recently signed a petition to oust U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra.
Carney told the Times he has planned to diversify Canada’s suppliers in an effort to reduce the country’s reliance on the U.S. for certain products, including technology.
Still, the prime minister said a “mutually beneficial” deal between the countries is on the table. He pointed to Canada’s oil exports to the U.S., as well as the fertilizer ingredient potash. Trump said earlier this week that he wants to start trading with Belarus — which already faces U.S. sanctions over its ties to Russia and would involve more complicated shipping logistics — instead of continuing to import almost 90% of its stores from Canada, which has the world’s largest reserve.
“I think this is a doable component of the deal, and there are other examples that exist, and we’re ready to work toward,” Carney said of Canada’s potash supply.
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