Trump’s Venezuela Action And Greenland Threats Revive Fears In Canada Of US Coercion

Last Updated:January 10, 2026, 23:00 IST

Experts warn US actions in Venezuela and Greenland may threaten Canada’s sovereignty through economic pressure and USMCA review.

US President Donald Trump (Getty Images)

Fears of US coercion have resurfaced in Canada following recent actions and rhetoric by US President Donald Trump, including a US military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, and renewed threats directed at Denmark over Greenland. Trump’s earlier remarks about making Canada the “51st state" have once again begun circulating widely, fuelling unease north of the US border.

The concern has been amplified by commentary in Canada’s The Globe and Mail, where a recent column warned that Canadians must confront the possibility that Trump could use military or economic coercion. One of the authors, Canadian academic Thomas Homer-Dixon, argued that deterrence is about “changing the calculus," adding that any attempt at coercion must be made “enormously costly."

Analysts say Canada’s anxiety stems from parallels with Greenland: both are democracies, Arctic nations, and members of NATO, an alliance Trump has repeatedly sought to dominate. Wesley Wark, a former Canadian government adviser on security and border issues, said recent US actions should serve as a “final wake-up call" for Ottawa, underscoring that the United States “is not the country that it used to be."

Prime Minister Mark Carney, who came to power promising to stand up to Trump, has since adopted a more cautious diplomatic approach. His government has focused on diversifying trade ties, particularly with China, to reduce dependence on the US. While Carney recently said the sovereignty of Greenland and Denmark should be respected, he avoided directly addressing Trump’s past comments about Canada.

Experts largely agree that a direct US military action against Canada is unlikely, but warn that economic pressure is a more realistic threat. Stephanie Carvin, an associate professor at Carleton University and former Canadian national security analyst, said Washington could be willing to “cripple the Canadian economy" to suit the president’s priorities, especially after asserting control over Venezuela’s oil resources.

Another risk scenario, according to Philippe Lagassé of Carleton University, could emerge if Canada were to rely heavily on US assistance during a crisis—such as a major natural disaster or a threat to electricity supplies. In such circumstances, he warned, the US might intervene and then leverage its presence for concessions.

Attention is also turning to the upcoming review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), signed during Trump’s first term. Canada currently sends about 70% of its exports to the US, with roughly 85% of bilateral trade tariff-free under the agreement. Analysts warn that even the threat of removing tariff exemptions during the review could have severe consequences for Canada’s economy, making trade leverage one of Washington’s most powerful tools.

News world Trump’s Venezuela Action And Greenland Threats Revive Fears In Canada Of US Coercion

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