Former German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel has suggested that Canada should join the European Union.
Speaking to the Weser-Kurier daily on Saturday, Gabriel proposed that Canada could join partially rather than fully. He emphasised the need for Europe to resist pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has pushed for Canada to become part of the United States.
Gabriel, who also served as Vice Chancellor from 2013 to 2018 under Angela Merkel, remarked that Canada is more European in many respects than some existing EU members.
Trump has frequently referred to Canada as the “51st State” of the US and addressed former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as governor, a title used for state executives in the US.
In a move that strained relations, Trump imposed high tariffs on Canadian goods, prompting Canada to retaliate with tariffs on US vehicle imports.
