President Donald Trump is privately pressing Canada to fortify its Arctic borders against Russia and China, even as his administration pursues talks on closer military cooperation, according to six current and former U.S. officials.
At a Glance
- Trump has told aides Canada is vulnerable to adversaries in the Arctic
- He wants Ottawa to boost defense spending and joint patrols
- No U.S. troop deployment on Canadian soil is under consideration
- Why it matters: The push could reshape North American security and NATO burden-sharing
The president’s intensifying private focus on Canada comes as advisers work toward his stated goal of acquiring Greenland. Trump argues that Canada, like Greenland, lacks the military means to defend its northern frontier and must spend more on defense, the officials said.
“Trump is really worried about the U.S. continuing to drift in the Western Hemisphere and is focused on this,” one official noted.
Current and former officials emphasized there is no discussion of stationing American troops along Canada’s northern border and no plan to purchase or militarily seize Canadian territory.
Still, the administration has accelerated internal talks on a broader Arctic strategy and is weighing a potential agreement with Canada this year to strengthen its northern defenses.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly pointed to an executive order Trump signed last April that “underscores the United States’ commitment to ensuring both freedom of navigation and American dominance in the Arctic waterways.” The Canadian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
Arctic security talks
U.S. officials are pursuing quiet negotiations with Ottawa on stepped-up military cooperation, including:
- Modernizing early-warning systems that detect approaching aircraft or vessels
- Expanding joint training and operations
- Increasing combined air and maritime patrols
- Adding U.S. ship patrols in the Arctic
A Pentagon working group focused on the Arctic has warned the White House that Canada’s exposure to China and Russia along its northern border is among the biggest regional challenges facing the United States.
Canada is increasing defense spending but remains below NATO’s 2 percent of GDP target. Trump has repeated his complaint about Ottawa’s military outlays in recent private discussions.
“They certainly need to up their game when it comes to Arctic capabilities,” an official said. “This is not acceptable given today’s threats. The status quo is not enough.”
Broader Western Hemisphere push
Trump’s focus on Canada is part of a wider effort to assert U.S. influence in the hemisphere. Earlier this year he:
- Used the U.S. military to oust Venezuela’s leader and take control of its oil industry
- Threatened Cuba’s regime
- Warned Colombia and Mexico of possible intervention to stop drug flows
- Repeatedly stated his intent to acquire Greenland, by purchase or force
“At the end of the day, this is to stop Russia and China from having a further presence in the Arctic,” the senior administration official said. “Canada stands to benefit from the U.S. having Greenland.”
Canada publicly maintains that Greenland’s future is a matter for Greenland and Denmark. Prime Minister Mark Carney, visiting Beijing this past week, voiced support for Denmark as a NATO ally while seeking to strengthen ties with China.
Trump told reporters Friday that Carney pursuing a trade deal with Beijing is “a good thing. That’s what he should be doing.”
Long-standing grievances
Trump’s criticism of Canada dates to his first term and peaked last year when he threatened “economic force” to make Canada the 51st state. He sparked a trade war and openly clashed with Ottawa, though public tensions have recently cooled.
Privately, Trump has grown more exercised about Canada’s Arctic vulnerability, urging aides to press Ottawa for faster action, officials said.
The administration is considering new icebreakers and additional maritime patrols, items that could appear in next year’s defense budget, according to current and former officials.
While Trump has not ruled out military action to obtain Greenland, he told NBC’s “Meet the Press” last year that using force against Canada is “highly unlikely. I don’t see it with Canada.”
Officials expect Trump to keep his latest Canada criticisms private as long as bilateral talks remain productive. A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation met Danish and Greenlandic leaders in Copenhagen Friday to reaffirm congressional support amid Trump’s threats to seize Greenland.
