U.S. threats take center stage in Canadian elections, coupled with Ottawa’s shift in foreign policy approach

“America wants our land, our resources, our water, our country. President Trump is trying to break us down to take us over. That will never ever happen,” said Canada’s new Prime Minister Mark Carney in his victory speech.

Given the traditionally friendly relations between the United States and Canada, as well as the typical lack of attention to security and foreign policy among Canadians in elections, the 2025 campaign, the course of the election, and the topics around which candidates rallied the electorate look quite unique.

And much of this rhetoric has been shaped by White House policy and Donald Trump’s odious statements about his desire to annex Canada as a new US state.