White House official threatens to redraw Canadian border
A top White House official has threatened to redraw the Canadian border amid Donald Trump’s ambition to turn the country in America’s “51st state”.
Peter Navarro, one of Donald Trump’s closest advisers, is pushing US negotiators to discuss reworking the border with their Canadian counterparts, The Telegraph can reveal.
“Navarro recommended revising the Canada-US border, which is just crazy and dangerous,” a source close to negotiations told The Telegraph.
Canada has now instructed its delegates to withdraw from negotiations with the US until Jameson Greer and Howard Lutnick, two incoming members of Mr Trump’s cabinet, are confirmed by the senate. Mr Greer and Mr Lutnick are viewed by Ontario as being less extreme.
“The Canadians have told their people to hold off negotiating with the US Government until Jameson Greer and Howard Lutnick are confirmed by the Senate and in post,” the source said.
Proposals also put forward by Mr Navarro include
expelling Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, the most important intelligence-sharing network in the world.
Mr Navarro, whose close relationship with Mr Trump has afforded him ease of access to the Oval Office, is “ruling the roost”, insiders say, with some staffers left feeling unable to challenge him.