Trump Adviser Denies Report Claiming He Wants Canada Removed from Intelligence Alliance
A senior adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump denies the media report suggesting he wants Canada to be expelled from the Five Eyes intelligence sharing partnership.
The media report claimed that Navarro was looking to apply pressure on Canada as Trump discusses the possibility of incorporating Canada as the 51st U.S. state. However, the report did not specify the purpose of this pressure.
“We would never compromise our national security with allies like Canada. Please refrain from such reporting,” Navarro stated. He also criticized the media culture where sources are not disclosed.
The journalist who wrote the article responded on social media, standing by the report and stating that multiple requests for comment from Navarro went unanswered before publication.
The Five Eyes intelligence alliance includes Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The partnership traces back to World War II and allows the exchange of intelligence among respective agencies such as the CIA, NSA, MI6, and other law enforcement entities.
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Canada, as per current and former security officials, is considered a “net importer” of intelligence compared to the U.S., which has a more advanced intelligence collection capability.
Trump has been pressuring Canada for months to enhance border security and combat drugs such as fentanyl.
Following the imposition of initial tariffs related to these issues on Feb. 3 by Trump, a 30-day pause has been implemented to evaluate Canada’s efforts to strengthen the border and tackle drug trafficking.
Aside from tariff threats, Trump has repeatedly discussed the idea of incorporating Canada as the 51st state, citing benefits such as lower taxes and increased military protection. The concept was first mentioned during Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s visit to Mar-a-Lago in late November to address the tariff issue related to the border.
Discussing the matter recently, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Trump made the comment after Trudeau suggested at Mar-a-Lago that Canada would “cease to exist” if steep tariffs were imposed by the U.S.
Trudeau mentioned that during the meeting, after Trump’s 51st state comment, he jokingly proposed a trade involving Vermont or California for certain parts, following which the subject was quickly dropped.
Canadian Defence Minister Bill Blair stated that Trump’s remarks are worrisome but do not pose an actual threat.
Emel Akan contributed to this report.
