Defence Minister Bill Blair said Wednesday that U.S. President Donald Trump91裸聊视频檚 talk of turning Canada into the 51st state is not a 91裸聊视频渞eal threat91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� while the prime minister said again there isn91裸聊视频檛 a 91裸聊视频渟nowball91裸聊视频檚 chance in hell91裸聊视频� of that happening.

The two were in Brussels to meet with NATO and European allies and members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. They had a breakfast meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Wednesday morning.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Blair said that while Trump91裸聊视频檚 comments are 91裸聊视频渄isrespectful and concerning,91裸聊视频� he doesn91裸聊视频檛 see them as a serious threat.

91裸聊视频淐ertainly we91裸聊视频檙e concerned about those remarks, and I think overwhelmingly for all Canadians those remarks are offensive. We91裸聊视频檙e proud of our country,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e assured all of our allies we91裸聊视频檙e prepared to stand up for our country. I do not believe that represents a real threat to us.91裸聊视频�

At a press conference later in the day, Trudeau went even further.

91裸聊视频淎s I91裸聊视频檝e said unequivocally from the beginning, there91裸聊视频檚 not a snowball91裸聊视频檚 chance in hell that Canada will ever be the 51st state,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淎t the same time, from having worked with President Trump for over eight years now, I can tell you that we have to take seriously what he says.91裸聊视频�

Last week, Trudeau told a group of Canadian business and labour leaders that Trump91裸聊视频檚 threat was 91裸聊视频渁 real thing91裸聊视频� tied to his administration91裸聊视频檚 desire for access to Canada91裸聊视频檚 critical minerals.

The Toronto Star was the first to report on Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 remarks at an economic summit, which were played on a loudspeaker after journalists were asked to leave the room.

Critical minerals are materials vital to a country91裸聊视频檚 economic or national security. Canada is a key supplier of 13 of the 35 minerals on the United States91裸聊视频� critical list, including tellurium, niobium and uranium.

Canada exported $29.8 billion worth of critical minerals to the United States in 2023 91裸聊视频� more than any other country, according to government figures. Exports to the U.S. accounted for 59 per cent of all of Canada91裸聊视频檚 critical mineral exports.

Blair was set to meet with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth for the first time Wednesday in Brussels.

Hegseth also spoke to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, where he discussed the Trump administration91裸聊视频檚 approach to the war in Ukraine.

He said Trump is bent on ending the war through diplomacy and getting Europe to assume most of the financial and military responsibility for Ukraine91裸聊视频檚 defence - including the cost of a possible peacekeeping force that would not include U.S. troops.

Hegseth said those troops should not be part of a NATO mission or covered under Article 5, the alliance91裸聊视频檚 mutual-defence pact.

91裸聊视频淭he United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement,91裸聊视频� he said.

NATO allies signed an agreement in 2023 to fast-track Ukraine91裸聊视频檚 membership when conditions are met. Trudeau has said Ukraine cannot join the alliance as long as it is at war with Russia.

Trump also has called on NATO members to spend five per cent of their GDP on defence, something no NATO country has accomplished. A third of NATO allies 91裸聊视频� Canada included 91裸聊视频� are struggling to meet the alliance91裸聊视频檚 target of spending the equivalent of at least two per cent of GDP per year on defence.

While the U.S. spends about 3.3 per cent of its GDP on defence, Hegseth told the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Wednesday that he agrees with Trump.

91裸聊视频淢embers of this contact group must meet the moment,91裸聊视频� he said, urging leaders to start 91裸聊视频渟peaking frankly with your people91裸聊视频� about the need to spend more on defence.

Blair told reporters the alliance will have a discussion about 91裸聊视频渢he appropriate level of defence spending.91裸聊视频�

91裸聊视频淩ight now, I91裸聊视频檓 focused on meeting the commitment we91裸聊视频檝e already made,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e working really hard to accelerate our spending to get to the two per cent threshold Canada has committed to. I believe that is achievable.91裸聊视频�

Pressed to say whether Canada would consider increasing defence spending to five per cent, Blair was also noncommittal.

91裸聊视频淓ven the United States does not spend five per cent of its GDP on defence. The United States is a superpower and they91裸聊视频檙e able to project their power and authority around the world for many of the NATO allies, including Canada,91裸聊视频� he said.

91裸聊视频淥ur responsibility is, first of all, the defence of our own country and our own continent, but also living up to our obligations to NATO, to Norad and our alliance in the Indo-Pacific.91裸聊视频�