Toronto: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expressed concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump's apparent interest in absorbing Canada due to its vital mineral resources. In a meeting held in Toronto on Friday, the outgoing premier addressed business and labor leaders, highlighting the potential threat to Canadian sovereignty posed by Trump's frequent references to Canada as the '51st state' of the United States.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, the meeting was organized in response to Trump's threat of imposing a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada. Although the U.S. president recently retreated from the tariff threat, offering Canada a 30-day window for negotiations, his continued remarks mocking Canadian sovereignty have sparked significant alarm among Canadian authorities and the public.

Trudeau emphasized that the U.S. is well aware of Canada's abundant reserves of essential minerals such as lithium, graphite, nickel, and cobalt, which are crucial for the green energy transition. He suggested that Trump might view annexation as a straightforward means of gaining access to these resources.

Meanwhile, a recent Angus Reid poll indicates a surge in Canadian patriotism, with a notable increase in national pride in Quebec. Canadian ministers have also reassured the public that the country remains sovereign and committed to determining its own future, firmly ruling out any alterations to the national border.