While President Donald Trump’s desire for Canada to become the 51st state didn’t sit well with Prime Minister Mark Carney, the newly elected Canadian leader credited the president with changing Canada’s outlook on security.
During the first meeting between Trump and Carney in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Carney said that Canada’s government is prepared to reorient itself on security spending and play its “full weight” in NATO. Shortly before Trump welcomed Carney to the White House, the president questioned why the United States was “subsidizing Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection.”
“My government is committed for a step change in our investment in Canadian security and our partnership,” Carney told reporters in the Oval Office. “And I’ll say this as well, that the president has revitalized international security, revitalized NATO and us playing our full weight in NATO, and that will be part of it.”
Pres. Trump on Canada becoming 51st state: We're not going to be discussing that, unless somebody wants to discuss that…it really would be a wonderful marriage.
Canadian PM Carney: There are some places that are never for sale…it's not for sale. It won't be for sale, ever. pic.twitter.com/axZSwbeO9C
— CSPAN (@cspan) May 6, 2025
In 2024, Canada spent just 1.37% of its GDP on defense, falling near the bottom among NATO allies in defense spending and coming up short of NATO’s 2% guideline. During his election campaign, Carney promised to increase defense spending with an “unprecedented acceleration of investment” in Canada’s armed forces, but did not specify what the total increase in spending would be, Reuters reported. While the United States doesn’t directly fund Canada’s military or defense, it has played a key role in information sharing and exchanging defense materials and research and development data.
Carney’s promise to increase the Canadian government’s focus on security came immediately after Trump told Carney to “never say never” to Canada becoming the 51st state. Trump said that the United States “essentially” provides “free” military support for Canada already.
“Because we’re protecting Canada if you ever have a problem,” the president added, gesturing toward Carney. “It would really be a wonderful marriage because it’s two places that get along very well.”
Carney dismissed any notion of his country joining the United States, but added that a “partnership” is important for the future of both nations.
