Prime Minister Mark Carney said he studied the possibility of U.S.-led military action in Canada, according to a New York Times interview published Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026. Carney declined to discuss in detail what that examination involved, but said it would be irresponsible not to prepare for what he called “extreme tail risk.”
“I think you have a responsibility in these roles to look at extreme tail risk,” Carney told the Times. “That’s just risk management. That’s not a base case, but it would be irresponsible not to [prepare].”
The statement comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly mused about making Canada the 51st state. Trump ruled out using military force to annex Canada in January 2025, but has said he would consider using “economic force” to get Canada to join the United States.
In the same interview, Carney discussed Canada’s plans to reduce reliance on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet service and said Canada is considering alternatives to buying American F-35 fighter jets. Canada’s plan to procure a full fleet of F-35 stealth fighters remains under political review by Carney’s government, a review launched more than a year ago in response to the trade war started by Trump.
Asked by CBC News if the Canadian military is re-examining plans for potential U.S.-led military action, Defence Minister David McGuinty said “all militaries in the world spend time analyzing risk scenarios.”
The trade war between Canada and the United States has escalated after efforts to reach a trade deal failed in mid-August. The day after talks broke down, Trump imposed 50 per cent duties on $28 billion in Canadian goods, while Canada implemented retaliatory tariffs in early September. The president also signed an order to identify and remove products of Canadian origin from U.S. government procurement systems.
The New York Times report says Carney disclosed that he and Trump speak “frequently,” even since trade talks collapsed last month. Carney and Trump did not meet when they both attended the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly this week. It was Carney’s first trip to the United States since trade negotiations fell apart last month.
Sources: Global News Canada · CBC Politics