Territorial premiers said it is a critical time for the Arctic amid U.S. President Donald Trump91裸聊视频檚 increasing rhetoric of American expansion and actions to disrupt global trade.

But they are very clear: the Arctic is not for sale.

91裸聊视频淭he people of the north are the ones asserting Canada91裸聊视频檚 sovereignty,91裸聊视频� said Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson in Washington Thursday.

Simpson, along with Yukon Premier Ranj Paillai and Nunavut Premier P.K. Akeeagok, were scheduled to meet with representatives from Greenland, which Trump has also made noise about trying to acquire.

The president complained about Canada later Thursday as he signed an order to implement 91裸聊视频渞eciprocal tariffs91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频� raising U.S. duties to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports 91裸聊视频� his latest move disrupting the global economy. The duties could come into force as early as April.

Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump91裸聊视频檚 ire became focused on America91裸聊视频檚 northern neighbour. He repeated claims that Canada should become the 51st state, griped about defence spending and northern security and called Prime Minister Justin Trudeau a governor.

91裸聊视频淭ake a look at what91裸聊视频檚 going on out there 91裸聊视频� you have Russian ships, you have China ships, you have Chinese ships, you have a lot of ships out there,91裸聊视频� Trump said. 91裸聊视频淵ou know people are in danger. This is a different world today.91裸聊视频�

Trump91裸聊视频檚 comments bring little relief to Canada91裸聊视频檚 13 premiers who were all in the United States capital Wednesday for the first time in history 91裸聊视频� part of a full-court press against Trump91裸聊视频檚 threats to impose steep tariffs on Canadian goods.

Premiers had a meeting with two top White House advisers who promised to carry their message to the Oval Office. James Blair, White House deputy chief of staff, said later Wednesday that they 91裸聊视频渘ever agreed that Canada would not be the 51st state.91裸聊视频�

Territorial leaders were undeterred, bringing a message of opportunities for Arctic collaboration between Canada and the United States to a talk at the Wilson Center Thursday morning.

The three territories have critical minerals essential for U.S. defence and advancement, as well as the geographic position to be a crucial partner in continental safety.

91裸聊视频淭his is a moment where people are now taking notice and it91裸聊视频檚 providing real opportunities for economic development in the north, but also the social development,91裸聊视频� Simpson said.

Trump91裸聊视频檚 increasing threats of devastating duties come as the president also expands on ideas around American imperialism, promising to redevelop Gaza, take back the Panama Canal, annex Greenland and make Canada the 51st state.

Trump91裸聊视频檚 Arctic push comes as he has talked about access to critical minerals and the American desire to push against the growing geopolitical presence of China and Russia in the region.

Expansionist discourse is ringing alarm bells in Canada and Europe. Greenland is a semi-autonomous Arctic territory that isn91裸聊视频檛 part of the European Union but whose 56,000 residents are EU citizens, as part of Denmark 91裸聊视频� a NATO ally.

Greenland also has cultural, linguistic and family ties to the Inuit in Canada. The territorial premiers were meeting with Kenneth H酶egh, a representative of Greenland to the United States, and Stig Piras, with Denmark91裸聊视频檚 Embassy in Washington.

Trump91裸聊视频檚 ongoing comments about Arctic regions was likely to be a topic of discussion, as is the need to include Indigenous people who live there in any conversation about the Arctic91裸聊视频檚 future, the premiers said.

A dark point in Canada91裸聊视频檚 colonial history was the forced relocation of Inuit to act 91裸聊视频渁s human flagpoles91裸聊视频� in Grise Fiord and Resolute Bay in the High Arctic, said Akeeagok.

91裸聊视频淲hen you talk about the true impact in terms of sovereignty, I know it from a personal experience,91裸聊视频� said Akeeagok, who grew up in Grise Fiord.

Canadian leaders should not get distracted, said Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai.

Pillai met with Donald Trump Jr. in North Carolina in December and has also spoken with Mike Dunleavy, Alaska91裸聊视频檚 governor, who is close with members of the Trump administration.

91裸聊视频淒onald Trump is not going to own the Arctic and he91裸聊视频檚 not going to own Canada,91裸聊视频� Pillai said. 91裸聊视频淏ut he will own inflation if these tariffs come in 91裸聊视频� And that91裸聊视频檚 not something he wants to do because his commitment to Americans was to make life more affordable.91裸聊视频�

There is opportunity for Canada to sit down with Trump, someone who considers himself a 91裸聊视频渄ealmaker,91裸聊视频� Pillai said.

The northern territories have potential to play an important role in future North American prosperity and security, the premiers said, but it will take investment in infrastructure. Addressing the issue could also appease one of Trump91裸聊视频檚 main irritants 91裸聊视频� that Canada is not meeting it91裸聊视频檚 NATO defence spending target.

Trudeau pledged last year that Canada would hit the NATO target, amounting to two per cent of gross-domestic product on defence, by 2032 91裸聊视频� which received criticism from Republican lawmakers and Trump for being far too late.

The territorial premiers made the case that investing in the Arctic, including highways and ports, would count toward NATO spending, while also bringing much-needed infrastructure to their regions.

Canada released a new Arctic foreign policy late last year, which committed to promoting investment in a wide range of sectors 91裸聊视频� including critical mineral development, transportation and energy 91裸聊视频� but didn91裸聊视频檛 specifically make funding commitments in those areas.

Ottawa has said the Arctic policy complements the updated defence policy, released last April, which promised $218 million over 20 years to build and operate 91裸聊视频渟upport hubs91裸聊视频� across the North.

The premiers said there needs to be quick action in the north in the wake of the Trump administration.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 very important that we focus on this now,91裸聊视频� Pillai said.