Top White House trade adviser Peter Navarro condemned a report contending he sought to push Canada out of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance as part of President Donald Trump‘s pressure campaign on a country that has traditionally been an ally.
The report from the Financial Times came before Trump’s deadline next week to impose 25% tariffs on all of Canada’s imports. The duties were delayed last month by 30 days until March 4 as the president considered what Canada has accomplished regarding countering illegal immigration and drug trafficking, particularly that of fentanyl.
“This nonsense from the Financial Times is a product of a culture in the media where they report stories and never name their sources,” Navarro told reporters Tuesday outside the White House’s West Wing. “My view is that we should never have to comment on any story where it’s based on unnamed sources.”
Navarro called the practice of relying on anonymous sources “crazy” despite many Trump administration officials speaking to reporters in the background without using their names.
“That was just crazy stuff,” he said. “We would never, ever jeopardize our national security, ever with allies like Canada. Ever. So please stop doing that.”
Five Eyes is comprised of the United States and the commonwealth countries of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The alliance was formalized by the UKUSA Agreement in 1946.
The removal of one member would have national security and political implications for the U.S. and its allies.
Navarro previewed that he would speak with reporters again later Tuesday. Trump is expected to sign three executive orders in the Oval Office in the afternoon.
Trump’s pressure campaign on Canada preceded Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s announcement that he would resign on March 24 rather than seek reelection. Trump’s mocking of Trudeau coincided with the latter’s unpopularity in Canada, with Trump quipping the country should become the U.S.’s 51st state and inviting Trudeau to the annual meeting of U.S. governors.
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For the month’s delay in tariffs, Trudeau told Trump he would implement his $1.3 billion border plan, “reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology, and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl,” including “nearly 10,000 frontline personnel.”
“In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada-U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering,” Trudeau wrote on social media. “I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
Trump’s negotiations with Mexico are ongoing under the same 25% tariff threat.