Canada 'concerned' about Trump's Greenland tariff threats, says PM Carney

ground government minister german mark Carney says Canada is " interested" near U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to impose increasing tariffs on several European countries until they accede to his demand to purchase and control Greenland.

"We're concerned about this escalation," Carney told reporters at a press conference in Doha, Qatar on Sunday morning. "We always will support sovereignty and territorial integrity of countries wherever their geographic location is."

"Decisions about the future of Greenland are for Greenland and Denmark to decide."

Trump said on social media that Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, and Finland would face a 10 per cent tariff. The rate would rise to 25 per cent on June 1 if the U.S. Does not reach a deal to buy the semiautonomous island.

The countries named by Trump have backed Denmark, warning that the U.S. Military seizure of a territory in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) could collapse the military alliance that Washington leads.

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In a statement released Sunday morning, the eight European countries said they stand in full solidarity with the people of Greenland and "stand ready to engage in a dialogue based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity that we stand firmly behind.

"Tariff threats undermine transatlantic relations and risk a dangerous downward spiral," the statement added.

Gen. Jennie Carignan, chief of the defence staff, said in an interview on Rosemary Barton Live that Trump's interest in controlling Greenland certainly causes "discussions within NATO."

But Carignan, whose interview was taped before Trump's new tariff threat, expressed optimism that NATO will persevere.

"I think we will navigate through this period of time with all of the allies around the table," she told host Rosemary Barton. "I think we really need to engage and not cut the communication channels and keep engaging together."

Denmark announced earlier this week it will bolster its troop, naval and air presence in Greenland in conjunction with NATO allies. 

When asked whether Canada is working on a proposal to contribute Canadian forces on the ground, Carignan said Canada is "always working closely with our Danish partner."

"There's definitely a lot of interest in Arctic security from a NATO perspective as well, and we will work together to do that," Carignan said.

Earlier this week, a senior Canadian official told journalists travelling with the prime minister on his overseas trip that Carney had been asked by Trump to join the "Board of Peace" that will supervise the temporary governance of the Gaza Strip.

At the time, the official said Carney would accept the invitation.

But new reporting suggests the scope of the "Board of Peace" is much bigger than anticipated. 

Carney to accept Trump’s invitation to join ‘Board of Peace’ for Gaza: Canadian official

A draft charter sent to 60 countries by the U.S. Administration calls for members to contribute $1 billion US in cash if they want their membership to last more than three years.

"Each Member State shall serve a term of no more ⁠than three years from this Charter’s entry into force, ‍subject to renewal by the Chairman," the document, first reported by Bloomberg News, ⁠shows.

A Canadian government source travelling with the prime minister told reporters on Saturday that Canada will not pay for a seat on the board, nor has that been requested of Canada at this time.

The source, who spoke on the condition they not be named, said Carney indicated his intent to accept the invitation because it was important to have a seat at the table to shape the process from within, but there are still details to be worked out on next steps.

When asked about his decision to accept the invitation, Carney said on Saturday "we haven't gone through all the details of the structure, how it's going to work, what financing is for, et cetera." 

Carney's answer did not mention whether Canada would pay for a seat.

During the press conference, Carney said that Qatar has committed to "significant strategic investments" for Canada's major building projects.

That capital will get projects built faster, "supercharge" energy industries and create jobs for Canadians, he added.

Calling it a "new chapter" in bilateral relations, Carney said the two countries will also strengthen "people-to-people" cultural ties, which will include expanding direct flights from Canada to Qatar to boost tourism and business.

"When the people of different countries are familiar with each other's cultures and perspectives, they're enriched, and they trust each other more," he said. "And they also want to do more together, to build together."

Carney said after years of stalled negotiations, Canada aims to finalize the Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement with Qatar by this summer. Canada will also install a defence attaché in Doha to deepen partnerships on defence.

Carney will wrap his nine-day trip abroad by attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Associate Producer

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