Ottawa has been preparing for next U.S. president 'for months,' foreign affairs minister says
Minister's comments come after former Trump ambassador said Canada should be prepared for more tense relations
Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly stated that Canada has been preparing for the next U.S. president for months as Americans choose Biden’s successor. “We’ve been preparing for this through our diplomatic network across the U.S. and worldwide,” Joly said Tuesday in Ottawa. “This government is ready to address issues important to Canadians, regardless of the American decision.”
As voters make their final choices in a close race between Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump, Joly’s remarks follow advice from a former U.S. ambassador to Canada who warned that a Trump victory could bring a more contentious U.S.-Canada relationship. “Canada, they need to buckle up,” said Kelly Craft, who noted Trump would resume policies from his prior presidency.
At a recent NATO summit, Prime Minister Trudeau committed to meeting NATO’s defense spending target by 2032, aiming for two percent of GDP. However, Craft indicated that if Trump wins, he may push for faster action on Canada’s defense spending. When questioned on this, Joly reiterated Canada’s commitment to NATO obligations without specifying any acceleration.
Trade remains a central concern, with Trump proposing a minimum 10 percent tariff on all U.S. imports, a potential disruption for Canadian businesses and workers, as roughly $3.6 billion in goods cross the border daily. Joly emphasized that Canada has built strong connections at various levels of U.S. governance to support ongoing trade. “Our relationship now goes deep across different levels of American society,” she noted.
Prime Minister Trudeau also expressed readiness to work with either election outcome. Behind the scenes, he has reportedly discussed potential results and been briefed by Canadian security on possible unrest in the U.S. if results are delayed, a scenario similar to 2020 when Joe Biden’s win wasn’t confirmed until days after election day. That delay led to significant protests and the January 6 Capitol attack.
Asked about possible unrest, Trudeau stated, “My role as Canadian prime minister is to work with whoever Americans elect … and that’s what I will continue to do.”
The FBI reported Tuesday that several bomb threats were made at polling stations across the U.S., though none were deemed credible. The threats, originating from Russian email domains, led to temporary closures at polling sites in Fulton County, Georgia. Authorities continue to caution against unprecedented levels of foreign interference and disinformation, which may persist beyond election day.
