As U.S. President Donald Trump retains threatening Canada’s sovereignty together with his 51st state feedback, British Overseas Secretary David Lammy is looking for unity — as the UK continues to keep away from immediately pushing again on Trump’s annexation discuss.
Lammy, who joined different G7 overseas ministers for talks in Quebec’s Charlevoix area this week, harassed that “Canada is a proud, robust, sovereign nation” throughout a Canadian unique interview on CBC’s The House airing Saturday.
“And [Canada] will proceed to be a sovereign nation. Of that, I’ve little doubt,” Lammy informed host Catherine Cullen.
Lammy, who has household in Canada, mentioned he acknowledges Canadians’ anxiousness as Trump continues to name for Canada to turn out to be the 51st U.S. state. Nevertheless, he repeatedly declined to reply whether or not he’s personally involved about Trump’s rhetoric.
“It is a second for unity,” Lammy mentioned. “That has been the purpose that we harassed at this G7. And all I can say and proceed to say is that Canada is a sovereign nation. It can proceed to be a sovereign nation.”
In an unique Canadian interview U.Ok. Overseas Secretary David Lammy mentioned it’s ‘not a time to sow pointless division’ when requested about President Donald Trump’s threats to annex Canada.
Trump’s annexation discuss has challenged Canada-U.Ok. relations, together with over how public King Charles must be in standing up for Canadian sovereignty and whether that clashes with British interests. Charles is the top of state for each international locations.
During the last two weeks, Charles met with outgoing Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a personal viewers, wore his Canadian medals throughout a high-profile military visit, planted a purple maple leaf tree on the grounds of Buckingham Palace and gave his personal Canadian liaison in Parliament a sword.
However Charles has not spoken publicly concerning the Canada-U.S. friction. He additionally created a stir in late February by inviting Trump to Balmoral, a royal property in Scotland. The invitation was brought to Trump by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer throughout a go to to the White Home.
At a information convention throughout Starmer’s go to, a journalist requested the British prime minister whether or not Charles expressed concern over Trump’s annexation feedback.
Starmer dodged the query and accused the journalist of “looking for a divide between us that does not exist.”
Throughout a information convention with U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer downplayed Trump’s current discuss of annexing Canada, saying reporters are in search of a division between Washington and London ‘that does not exist.’
“We are the closest of countries, and we had excellent discussions at present. However we did not focus on Canada,” Starmer mentioned because the president interrupted him, saying, “that is sufficient.”
When Lammy was requested why Charles ought to welcome Trump — a person who needs to annex a Commonwealth realm — the British overseas secretary echoed Starmer’s phrases and mentioned “this isn’t a time to sow pointless division.”
Lammy additionally confirmed that Prime Minister Mark Carney will meet with Starmer subsequent week when Carney flies to London — his first abroad journey within the new job.
Russia-Ukraine ceasefire
On Friday morning, Overseas Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly mentioned the G7 is united in supporting a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal for Ukraine, which has been endorsed by Kyiv and is now awaiting a response from Russia.
“In the end, the ball is now in Russia’s courtroom with regards to Ukraine,” Joly mentioned.
Lammy mentioned Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to simply accept the phrases of the ceasefire “in order that we will get into the small print of a negotiated peace, in order that Ukraine has the safety ensures which can be crucial, in order that we get an everlasting peace.”
In a joint assertion launched Friday, the G7 overseas ministers mentioned they “reaffirmed our unwavering help for Ukraine in defending its territorial integrity and proper to exist, and its freedom, sovereignty and independence.”
The overseas ministers additionally known as for Russia to simply accept the ceasefire and implement it totally
“We mentioned imposing additional prices on Russia in case such a ceasefire is just not agreed, together with by means of additional sanctions, caps on oil costs, in addition to further help for Ukraine and different means,” the assertion mentioned.
Lammy mentioned Canada “has been forward-leaning on Ukraine, as the UK has been” and he expects each international locations to be a part of the group stepping up for the embattled Ukrainians.
“So this coalition of the prepared is forming, and the UK and Canada are facet by facet inside it,” Lammy mentioned.
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