Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government has examined the remote possibility of U.S. military action against Canada, describing preparations for such a scenario as part of his responsibility to assess extreme risks.
Carney said the prospect was not considered a likely outcome and declined to provide details about preparations, as tensions between Ottawa and Washington remain elevated under U.S. President Donald Trump.
Carney told The New York Times that Canadian authorities had carefully considered the possibility of American military action as an "extreme tail risk."
He said examining such scenarios was necessary risk management for a national government, while stressing that military action was not the expected outcome.
The assessment follows repeated comments by Trump about Canada becoming the 51st U.S. state, including a February 2025 social media post promoting the idea.
Trump had also discussed using military or economic pressure regarding Canada, although he later ruled out military action.
Canada has meanwhile sought to strengthen its defence posture, with Carney boosting defence spending since taking office.
His government is also reducing reliance on some U.S. systems, including Starlink, and reviewing a planned order of F-35 fighter jets from Lockheed Martin.
Relations have also been strained by trade disputes.
A trade agreement collapsed at the last minute in August, pushing the two countries toward higher tariffs and extending an escalating exchange of trade measures.
Despite those tensions, Carney said he has continued speaking frequently with Trump and described their working relationship as direct and functional.
He said the two leaders remain able to discuss disagreements by phone and indicated that communication would continue.
Carney also said he remains optimistic that trade negotiations can resume and that an agreement with Washington remains possible.
At the same time, his government has pursued greater Canadian autonomy and reduced dependence on the United States.
Earlier this year, Carney urged middle powers including Canada to cooperate more closely and lessen their reliance on larger powers.
His latest comments underline how Ottawa is simultaneously preparing for unlikely security risks while seeking to preserve channels for economic negotiations with Washington.