“Wouldn’t it be lovely if Canada was the 28th state of the European Union rather than the 51st state of the United States?” asked Finland’s President Alexander Stubb this summer.
The question was rather tongue-in-cheek. US President Donald Trump, who is currently locked in an escalating tariff tussle with Ottawa, has, on a number of occasions, declared his ambition to make Canada the 51st American state – causing deep offence amongst many Canadians.
CANADA HAS BEEN INVITED TO BE AN ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE EU!
"We want to bring the relationship with Canada to the highest level possible. We are opening the door for Canada to being the first associate member of the European Union" pic.twitter.com/feb0Mhk8cf
— NXT EU (@NXT4EU) September 16, 2026
