Canada's ambassador to France says Trump's sovereignty threats could violate international law

Canada's ambassador to France says he's against U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to take over Greenland, saying "in order to respect international law, you don't threaten your neighbours by invasion." 

Stéphane Dion, who is also the special envoy to Europe and the European Union, says threatening a country's sovereignty is not "normal." Trump is also continuing to push for Canada to become America's 51st state. 

"You know that according to international law it's not only to invade a neighbour that's against international law in the charter of the UN, it is to threaten," he said. "So we're against that."

Dion spoke to journalists at the Canadian Embassy in Paris the morning after Trump threatened to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all countries' aluminum and steel entering the U.S., including its biggest supplier: Canada. 

Dion said the Canadian government would respond if the Trump administration makes it official in writing through an executive order. Trudeau is giving a speech on Monday at the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit in Paris that U.S. Vice-President J.D. Vance is expected to attend along with other world leaders. 

WATCH | Canada and Europe trying to find 'cohesive way' to show U.S. trade wars are bad for all, Dion says: 

Canada and Europe trying to find 'cohesive way' to show U.S. trade wars are bad for all, Dion says

1 day ago

Duration 1:12

Stéphane Dion, Canada's ambassador to France, says while Canada and Mexico were targeted first by U.S. tariffs, Europeans know that they are at risk as well.

Trump is escalating his rhetoric against Canada. 

The U.S. president said yesterday that Canada isn't a viable country without the U.S., and warned Canada should no longer depend on Washington for military protection.

"They don't pay very much for the military, and the reason they don't pay much is they assume that we're going to protect them," Trump said. "That's not an assumption they can make, because why are we protecting another country?"

Trump also reiterated his desire to see Canada become a 51st state. 

"If Canada isn't a viable country, show me a viable country," said Dion. "It's one of the best countries in the world."

Dion dismissed Trump's comments and said the U.S. needs Canada for its defence, too. 

"If you don't defend Canada, you cannot have an effective defence for the U.S.," Dion said in response to a question from CBC News. "We are all together, we are all together up to Ukraine. It's why NATO is so important, so key and we need to work hard for that."

WATCH | Trump planning tariffs on steel, aluminum worldwide — including Canada: 

Trump planning tariffs on steel, aluminum worldwide — including Canada

2 days ago

Duration 4:52

As Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was in Europe to discuss artificial intelligence and strengthen alliances, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters he will be announcing 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminum that enters the country, including products from Canada and Mexico.

Trudeau did not respond to questions from reporters when he was asked to respond to Trump's latest comments just before midnight in Paris. 

Trudeau is attending a two-day artificial intelligence summit hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trudeau will head to Brussels next to meet EU leaders and have a one-on-one with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.