Peter Navarro, one of the most important advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump, is calling for Canada to be expelled from the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing group as Trump ramps up pressure on Ottawa. In a report by The Financial Times, Trump is said to have a vision of Canada as the 51st state of the U.S.
The Five Eyes community, consisting of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, was formed in 1941. This network of intelligence sharing is regarded as one of the most closely integrated arrangements, enabling member countries to share an enormous amount of classified data.
On Monday, Trump reaffirmed his determination to impose 25 percent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada, saying that the scheduled trade restrictions are on track as planned. The tariffs will go into effect after the March 4 deadline.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, scheduled to depart office on March 9, was earlier overheard on a hot mic admitting Trump's wish to include Canada as part of the U.S. as a "real thing."
Confusion Over Trump's Support for Navarro's Idea
While Navarro has been urging to leave Canada out of the Five Eyes network, it is not clear if Trump is in full agreement with this step.
As one of the top advisers to Trump with direct access to the Oval Office, Navarro has reportedly persuaded American officials to apply pressure on Canada by stripping it of its membership in the intelligence partnership. The suggestion is now under consideration within the Trump administration.
Dennis Wilder, a retired CIA official who assisted in preparing the U.S. president's daily intelligence briefing, has called the Five Eyes "by far the most successful intelligence-sharing arrangement in world history." The partnership enables such intelligence activities as the CIA-controlled Pine Gap satellite station in Australia, an important center for the surveillance of China.
Even though Canada and New Zealand provide the lowest level of intelligence among the group, taking out any member would elicit resistance from allies. Intelligence agents in Washington and other members have been concerned about the potential implications of doing so.
A Five Eyes spokesman, quoted by The Financial Times, said that Canada's expulsion from the network would be very bad. "From where I sit, surveying the mounting threats we're facing, we need as many good partners as we can get," the spokesman said.
Steve Bannon Weighs In
White House former strategist Steve Bannon, who was instrumental in Trump's 2016 electoral win, insisted that Trump's plans for Canada must not be brushed aside as politics. Bannon called on Ottawa to take Trump's plans seriously.
Bannon indicated that Canada does not have the military might to defend itself, especially as China is increasing its presence in the Arctic. He also warned that keeping Canada out of the Five Eyes partnership might end up biting the U.S. back.
"Canada punches way above their weight. If you examine military history, they have been the best ally we have had," Bannon said in an interview with The Financial Times.
Navarro, who is close to Trump, was named as a senior trade and manufacturing counselor in December 2024. The president has even been overheard calling him "my Peter" at times, underlining their fine working relationship.
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