Canada’s foreign minister says she gave Europe a ‘wake-up call’ on threat Trump poses to Canada
Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly recently wrapped up her tour of Europe, where she emphasized the urgent need for Canada’s allies to wake up to the economic and political threats posed by the Trump administration. During a call back from Brussels, Joly expressed her concern that many European colleagues were not fully aware of the challenges facing both the U.S. and Canada.
According to Joly, Europeans have been hesitant to speak out against President Trump’s aggressive stance towards Canada, as they are preoccupied with their own issues in dealing with Washington. She stressed the importance of coordinating responses to tariffs and defending national security and sovereignty together with European allies. Joly described her visit as a wake-up call for Europeans to understand the gravity of the situation.
The minister’s trip included stops in France, Germany, and Belgium, with a highlight being her attendance at the Munich Security Conference. Discussions at the conference focused on efforts to promote peace in Ukraine and the Middle East, as well as collaboration on Arctic sovereignty. Joly’s main objectives were to strengthen trade relations, protect jobs, counter tariffs from the U.S., and enhance security cooperation with European partners.
During her visit, Joly met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio but did not discuss Trump’s annexation threats towards Canada. She clarified Canada’s position on the matter to American senators and emphasized that Canada would never become a U.S. state or colony. Joly also engaged with U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer on trade issues and reaffirmed Canada’s stance on not readmitting Russia to the G7.
As preparations for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alta., continue, Joly reiterated Canada’s opposition to Russia’s return to the group. She confirmed Canada’s participation in the second French summit on Ukraine and European security, following the exclusion of European countries from recent peace talks between Trump and Russia. The upcoming summit in Paris aims to include all relevant European nations in discussions on regional security.
In conclusion, Minister Joly’s tour of Europe highlighted the need for close cooperation among allies in response to the challenges posed by the Trump administration. By engaging with European partners on trade, security, and sovereignty issues, Canada aims to strengthen its relationships and defend its interests on the global stage.
