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New Delhi: In a striking shift of diplomatic tone, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney lauded US President Donald Trump as a "transformative president" during bilateral talks at the White House. Carney credited Trump with influencing global affairs and even brokering "peace" between nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.
The high-stakes meeting, Carney's second since assuming office in March, unfolded against a backdrop of complex trade disputes and previously strained relations.
Speaking from the Oval Office, as President Trump nodded in agreement, Carney stated, "You (Donald Trump) hosted me and some of my colleagues a few months ago, and I said at the time, 'You are a transformative president.'"
He continued, elaborating on what he perceived as Trump's impactful legacy, "And since then, the transformation in the economy, unprecedented commitments of NATO partners to defend spending, peace from India-Pakistan, through to Azerbaijan-Armenia, disabling Iran as a force of terror, these were important."
This commendation for de-escalating the India-Pakistan military confrontation in May echoes a claim Trump has repeatedly made himself, though one vehemently denied by New Delhi. India has consistently asserted that a ceasefire was reached only after Pakistan's Director General of Military Operations (DGMO) initiated contact with his Indian counterpart, reportedly "desperate" to halt hostilities following decisive Indian strikes during Operation Sindoor.
Carney's visit held significant weight, coming ahead of next year's review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The once "most durable and amicable" alliance between the two North American neighbours has been notably fractured by Trump's aggressive trade war policies and controversial remarks, including earlier suggestions that Canada should be "annexed" into the United States. Carney's effusive praise for Trump on Tuesday signalled a notable thawing in Ottawa's diplomatic stance after months of unease over tariff threats and the annexation comments.
During their exchange, President Trump even light-heartedly revisited his "merger" idea, joking about Canada becoming the 51st US state. Carney, taking it in stride, laughed off the suggestion, responding, "That wasn't where I was going," before smoothly redirecting the conversation.
Beyond North American dynamics, Carney also reaffirmed Canada's support for Trump's efforts in Middle East diplomacy. "We'll do whatever we can to support that," he assured the US President.
Trump, in turn, offered reciprocal compliments, praising Carney as a "world-class leader" and describing the former central banker as a "nice man" who also possesses a "very nasty" side.
Despite the jovial atmosphere and mutual accolades, both leaders meticulously avoided offering any precise details on how they might alleviate the US tariffs currently imposed on Canadian lumber, aluminium, steel, and automobiles. Carney, under considerable domestic pressure to secure a concrete deal during his visit, departed without any firm promises that these tariffs would be lifted. Nevertheless, he expressed confidence that Canada would ultimately "get the right deal" from the United States, its principal economic partner.
Trump told reporters that he believed the Canadians were "going to walk away very happy." He acknowledged "natural conflict" between the two economies but asserted that they had "come a long way over the last few months."
However, a subsequent statement from Prime Minister Carney on X indicated a more nuanced reality, suggesting little firm agreement had been reached beyond a mutual recognition of areas for both competition and cooperation. "We're focused on building these new opportunities," Carney posted, leaving the resolution of key trade disputes still very much an open question.
