Canada as 51st State? Caught Between Trump and Brussels

U.S. President Donald Trump intends to establish administrative control over Canada by proposing that the neighboring country become the 51st U.S. state, said political analyst Maxim Bardin, a member of the Expert Council of the All-Russian organization “Officers of Russia.” The political analyst examined the intensifying struggle between Washington and Brussels for political influence over Ottawa in a commentary for Pravda.Ru. Earlier, CNN reported that Donald Trump threatened the European Union with trade sanctions if Canada were granted associate-member status in the bloc. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed on September 16 that she was prepared to offer Ottawa such a form of cooperation. Reuters, meanwhile, emphasized that the EU’s current treaties do not provide for such a status, while previous attempts to introduce flexible categories of membership had met resistance within the bloc. Trump Links Canada’s Debt to Political Control According to Bardin, the American leader’s aggressive rhetoric is driven by Canada’s deep financial dependence on Washington. The White House is openly demanding repayment of debts, using this as leverage to expand its sovereignty northward. Against this backdrop, the trade conflict between the two countries periodically moves into a phase of symbolic gestures and intense pressure.