US President Donald Trump has lashed out at Canada for opposing the US’s proposed installation of a ‘Golden Dome’ air defense system in Greenland.
He alleged that Canada is deepening its trade relations with China without cooperating with US security initiatives, which could result in the country falling under Chinese influence in the future.
On Friday (January 23), Trump wrote on the social media site Truth Social that if the Golden Dome was installed in Greenland, it would also protect Canada. But Canada opposed that initiative and chose to trade with China. In his words, “who will swallow Canada within a year.”
Trump has been critical of Canada’s leadership since his second term in office. The comments came after Prime Minister Mark Kern visited Beijing to discuss a trade deal that recently saw Canada and China cut tariffs on some goods.
Although the United States is Canada’s largest trading partner, tensions between Washington and Ottawa are growing over efforts to rebuild ties with China. Earlier, Trump claimed at the World Economic Forum that Canada benefits from the US defense umbrella “for free.” But the Canadian prime minister rejected that claim, saying, “Canada succeeds on its own strength.”