Trump advisor pushes to axe Canada from Five Eyes, sources tell FT
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The news: Peter Navarro, one of Donald Trump’s closest advisers, proposed expelling Canada from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network, the Financial Times reported citing people familiar with his efforts inside the administration.
Navarro who was recently appointed senior counsellor for trade and manufacturing, declined to comment to the FT. However, after the article was published, he denied the reports, telling reporters: “We would never ever jeopardise our national security, ever, with allies like Canada.”
“My view is that we should never have to comment on any story where it’s based on unnamed sources,” he added.
The context: The Five Eyes network also includes Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Trump has steadily increased pressure on Canada, vowing to impose 25% tariffs on imports when a one-month reprieve expires on 4 March, and has spoken about annexing the country.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who will step down on 9 March, was recently caught on an open mic warning that Trump’s annexation ambition is a “real thing.”
Steve Bannon told the FT Trump was serious about annexation but argued expelling Canada would be counterproductive.
The White House and Trudeau’s office did not comment.
The source: Financial Times
