‘We will never be a colony,’ Canadian foreign minister says to Trump’s 51st state remarks

Read the Full Transcript

• Ali Rogin:

  The future of Ukraine took center stage at Munich Security Conference over the last few days before the US Announced it would meet with Russian officials. Our foreign affairs correspondent and defense correspondent Nick Schifrin sat down in Germany with Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly. They began by focusing on U.S. Economic threats against Canada and tensions, including in Munich, between the US and its closest allies.

• Nick Schifrin:

  Here in Munich, this weekend, you told Europeans, quote, you're next on tariffs, and that Canada and Europe had to work together when it comes to tariffs, has the Trump administration's trade talk, has Trump administration's rhetoric here, even in Europe, affected how the US Is perceived as an ally?

• Melanie Joly, Canadian Foreign Minister:

  Well, when it comes to tariffs, it's already the case in the sense that steel and aluminum tariffs are already being imposed starting March 12 on European allies and on everybody. Actually.

  Canada is the biggest client of the US. We buy from Americans more than China, Japan, France and the U.K. we're the best neighbors. We're best friends. We're completely linked. And so, of course, if it happens against Canada, it will happen against Europeans.

• Nick Schifrin:

  President Trump has paused the 25 percent tariffs that he threatened on Canada for one month. You called those 25 percent tariffs, quote, an existential threat. Do you believe that President Trump will impose the tariffs?

• Melanie Joly:

  Well, the basis on which these tariffs were going to be imposed on Canada and Mexico were based on fentanyl and the fact that there were issues at the border. So we wanted to do the best for us and also for the U.S. which is having a very secure border, having a joint strike force against fentanyl, making sure we have a border czar. We're getting very good vibes coming from Washington, but we understand that the threat will continue to be there.

  And in that sense, in Canada, the reaction is, first, we'll take care of ourselves. Second, we need to be closer to other allies and we need to diversify our trade. And thirdly, I think that Canadians expect their government to be very strong on this.

• Nick Schifrin:

  Canada threatened about $155 billion worth of tariffs against the U.S. Are you keeping that threat on the table? And what would you do if, in fact, Donald Trump continues with the 25 percent tariffs as threatened?

• Melanie Joly:

  Well, of course, this is our response, and we'll make sure that we abide by what we said to first Canadians, but also to Americans. We have to respond if we're under threat.

• Nick Schifrin:

  This weekend you chaired the first G7 foreign ministers meeting this year, mostly focused on Ukraine, I'm told. And this week, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Ukraine probably would not be able to recapture all its occupied territory and would probably not join NATO. Vice President Vance at the end of the week said, oh, maybe U.S. troops could even be sent into Ukraine. What is the impact of US mixed messages on Ukraine?

• Melanie Joly:

  We need to make sure that we stand with Ukraine and Ukrainians have been fighting for their own freedom. But we're not naive. We know that if Russia doesn't go unchecked, it's our own freedom that is at stake. And so that's why I was happy to see that within the foreign ministers meeting of the G7, we all agreed that first Ukraine needed to make sure that it was going to have access to a comprehensive, a just and long lasting peace.

  And also that Ukraine needed security guarantees, Nick. So that's why I think that the G7 statement is a strong one. It is one on which all G7 members agree, including, of course, the US. And so I think it sends a strong message.

• Nick Schifrin:

  So does that mean that you have faith that the United States will continue supporting in Ukraine?

• Melanie Joly:

  I think that it is important that they do. And I think at the same time, we hear the clear message, Nick. We need to do more on defense spending. Canada will do so. And so, if it's about burden sharing, no problem. Let's have that conversation. But let's not have a bad deal for Ukraine.

• Nick Schifrin:

  Finally, President Trump has continued to joke about Canada as the 51st state. He's questioned the sovereignty of Greenland and Panama. What is the impact when the President of the United States questions the sovereignty of countries, including NATO allies?

• Melanie Joly:

  Well, I think Canadians have been clear. They don't like it, we don't like it. And, you know, we will make sure that never happens. We will continue to be the best friends and, you know, best neighbors America will ever have. But we will never be a state and we will never be a colony, period.

• Nick Schifrin:

  Melanie Joly, thank you very much.

• Melanie Joly:

  Thank you.