Former Quebec premier Jean Charest has issued a stark warning to Canada: following the dramatic U.S. intervention in Venezuela, President Donald Trump could once again set his sights on the nation to the north. Charest argues that Canada must act with urgency to lessen its profound economic and military reliance on the United States.
A New American Doctrine and Its Implications
Charest points to the arrest and extradition of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to the United States over the weekend as a clear demonstration of Trump's willingness to act. Maduro pleaded not guilty to drug trafficking and other charges on Monday, January 4, 2026, after the U.S. accused him of collaborating with drug traffickers.
This action, according to Charest, is part of a broader U.S. national security strategy unveiled in November 2025 aimed at restoring American dominance in the Western Hemisphere. "This is very revealing because, for the first time in black and white, the president states that Americans have power over the Western Hemisphere," Charest stated in an interview with TVA. "This includes Canada."
The strategy document asserts that countries within this hemisphere must align their interests with those of the United States. "He has demonstrated the capacity to intervene directly in a foreign country if he believes it is in the American interest," Charest emphasized.
Why Canada is Vulnerable
Charest highlighted several areas where Canada is particularly exposed. The U.S. strategy mentions securing supply chains and access to critical minerals—resources Canada possesses in abundance. He also expressed concern over Canada's vast water resources, even though they are not explicitly cited in the document.
Reflecting on past statements, Charest noted that Trump has previously floated the idea of Canada becoming the "51st state" and has questioned the location of the Canada-U.S. border. "He could put Canada back in his crosshairs," Charest warned. However, he downplayed the likelihood of a military invasion, suggesting economic and political pressure would be the more probable tools.
The ultimate result, Charest argues, is a relationship where Canada risks becoming a "vassal state," compelled to pay tribute to the central superpower. "What this means in practice is that all countries in the hemisphere, including Canada, must align their interests with American interests; otherwise, we will be sanctioned."
A Call for Strategic Independence
To counter this vulnerability, Charest advocates for decisive action to diversify Canada's economic partnerships and strengthen its autonomy. One key proposal is accelerating the construction of a new oil pipeline to the Pacific Coast to access Asian markets, thereby reducing reliance on the U.S. as the sole export customer for Canadian energy.
He believes the U.S. move to control Venezuela's oil industry will eventually lower global prices and enhance American competitiveness, further diminishing U.S. need for Canadian oil. "According to experts we've heard, it would take at least 10 years to rebuild Venezuela's production capacity," Charest said, indicating a longer-term strategic shift rather than an immediate change.
Charest, who serves on the federal government's Prime Minister’s Council on Canada‑U.S. Relations, concluded with a sobering message: "Canada must accelerate everything we need to do to be less economically dependent on the Americans, less dependent militarily as well, and we must act with a sense of urgency." The time for complacency in the bilateral relationship, he insists, is over.
