Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived for White House talks with Donald Trump on Tuesday in a bid to reset a relationship he says has been undermined by the US president's tariffs and talk of annexation. Carney's Liberal Party won the April 28 election on promises to tackle Trump and create a new bilateral economic and security relationship with the United States. It will be his first in-person meeting as prime minister with Trump.
Shortly before Carney arrived, Trump posted a message on social media.
"I look forward to meeting the new Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney. I very much want to work with him, but cannot understand one simple TRUTH — Why is America subsidising Canada by $200 Billion Dollars a year, in addition to giving them FREE Military Protection and many other things? We don’t need their Cars, we don’t need their Energy, we don’t need their Lumber, we don’t need ANYTHING they have, other than their friendship, which hopefully we will always maintain. They, on the other hand, need EVERYTHING from us! The Prime Minister will be arriving shortly and that will be, most likely, my only question of consequence."
Carney, a 60-year-old ex-central banker with no previous political experience, was elected Liberal leader in March to replace Justin Trudeau, who had a poor relationship with Trump. "It's important to get engaged immediately... and I'm pleased to have the opportunity for quite a comprehensive set of meetings," Carney said on Friday, adding he expected the talks to be difficult yet constructive. He played down the idea of immediate breakthroughs.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
