A bipartisan delegation of five U.S. senators visited Ottawa to reaffirm the importance of U.S.-Canada ties, asking Canadians to reconsider the relationship despite recent strains caused by Donald Trump’s trade policies and rhetoric. Republican Senator Kevin Cramer urged Canada to “give us another chance,” citing mutual interests in trade, defence, and tourism.
The senators met with Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose leadership they see as a promising shift toward more stable cross-border cooperation. Carney has pledged to rebuild economic and security partnerships with the U.S., even as he acknowledges that the era of deep integration may be over.
Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia highlighted a sharp drop in Canadian tourism to the U.S., linking it to the fallout from Trump-era tariffs and political tensions. “We wanted to come to Canada and say clearly: we value this relationship,” Kaine said, emphasizing Canada’s critical role as the top trading partner for many U.S. states.
Defence cooperation was another focal point, especially as Carney has committed to meeting NATO’s 2% defence spending target by 2030—two years earlier than former PM Trudeau had pledged. The senators discussed joint participation in the proposed “Golden Dome” space-based missile defence system and praised Canada’s recent investment in Arctic security and NORAD modernization.
Senator Cramer emphasized that Canada is a “logical partner” in continental defence, given its Arctic position and existing cooperation through NORAD. The senators also called for resolving fentanyl-related trade disputes through formal trade agreements rather than unilateral actions. Kaine’s resolution to end the fentanyl emergency declaration used to justify tariffs was passed in the Senate but remains stalled in the House.
Despite continued friction from Trump’s policies, the senators agreed that a renewed partnership is possible—one that requires mutual effort and trust. “The ultimate deal-makers are Carney and Trump,” said Cramer. “If anyone can strike a deal, it’s them.”