US Senator Marco Rubio has refused to discuss US President Donald Trump’s claim to “take over” Canada, which was made while Trump reiterated his desire for the country to become the 51st US state.
Senator Rubio is set to attend a two-day summit with foreign ministers from allied G7 countries in Quebec, where tensions between Washington and Ottawa are running high. The US tariffs on steel and aluminum imports took effect on Wednesday, sparking retaliatory measures from Canada.
As President Trump continues to court controversy over his foreign policy stance, European countries are becoming increasingly uneasy about their relationship with the US. Relations have reached a low point, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labeling the US tariffs “dumb” in response to Trump’s comments on annexing Canada.
Senator Rubio is focused on defense and Ukraine issues during the G7 meeting, which has been set up to address global challenges such as China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region. The summit comes amid a backdrop of diplomatic tensions between the US and its allies over trade and security concerns.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/mar/12/marco-rubio-canada-g7-meeting