Ottawa, Canada - Prime Minister Mark Carney faced significant backlash from high-ranking Canadian officials for recent comments admitting his government has prepared for a potential US invasion.
In September, Carney used an interview with the New York Times to point out that it is the "responsibility" of his government to consider an "extreme tail risk" like the potential invasion of Canada by President Donald Trump's administration in the US.
"That's just risk management," he said. "It would be irresponsible not to [prepare]… we have a good relationship in the sense of we can pick up the phone and talk to each other about issues."
While his cabinet – notably, Minister of National Defense David McGuinty – acknowledged the logic of Carney's admission, admitting that "all militaries in the world spend time analyzing risk scenarios," others were less happy.
"This happening in the United States at a time when we have heightened tensions already, words like 'war' and 'rupture,' now 'invasion' added to that, takes us from the realm of retaliation to provocation," former Conservative Defense and Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay warned.
He said that Carney's comments were irresponsible because they could be perceived as a threat to Washington, or even as a potential challenge.
Across the border, US Pacific Command Admiral Samuel Paparo said the scenario hinted at by Carney is "absolutely and utterly preposterous" and likened it to the possibility of an attack by Martians.
Wendy Gilmour of the Conference of Defence Associations Institute said that the risk of an invasion was highly unlikely but that Carney's comments were appropriate.
"I think prime minister Carney's description of an 'extreme tail risk' is apt," Gilmour said. "What's interesting about that term is, in economics, extreme tail is very low probability but extremely high consequence."
"At the end of the day, it's the responsibility of governments to think through all scenarios and ensure that we are prepared."