Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney firmly dismissed assertions by former U.S. President Donald Trump that Canada relies on the United States for its existence during a press conference in Quebec City on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The remarks followed Trump’s comments at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos earlier this week, reigniting debates over North American diplomatic dynamics.
"Canada and the United States have built a remarkable partnership—economically, in security, and through cultural exchange," Carney stated. "But Canada doesn’t live because of the United States. Canada thrives because we are Canadian." His rebuttal came after Trump declared on Wednesday that "Canada lives because of the United States" and urged Carney to "remember that" in future statements.
The exchange highlights lingering tensions over sovereignty narratives. Carney’s Tuesday speech at Davos, where he warned of a "rupture in American hegemony" and called on smaller nations to resist coercion, appears to have prompted Trump’s remarks. Analysts suggest the clash underscores shifting global power balances as nations navigate post-pandemic economic recovery and geopolitical realignments.
Business leaders and policymakers are closely monitoring the rhetoric, given the deep economic integration between the two nations. Cross-border trade between Canada and the U.S. exceeded $1 trillion in 2025, with millions of jobs dependent on bilateral supply chains.
For Canada’s diaspora communities and global observers, Carney’s stance reinforces Ottawa’s commitment to multilateralism amid rising nationalist rhetoric worldwide. The situation remains fluid, with experts anticipating further diplomatic maneuvers ahead of the APEC Leaders’ Meeting later this year.
