(9 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ramstein, Germany – 09 January 2025
1. Wide of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at podium
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Boris Pistorius, German Defense Minister:
"It’s a little bit, let me express it diplomatically, astonishing to read things like that and to hear it in the television. I don’t know what his objectives are to do that. But anyway, alliances are alliances to stay alliances, regardless who is governing in countries. Otherwise it would be only something like communities or whatever else, or partnerships. So therefore I’m quite optimistic that remarks like that won’t really, and I hope so, won’t really influence US politics after the 20th of January."
3. Wide of Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair walking to lectern
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Bill Blair, Canadian Defense Minister:
“Can I say, Canada is a very proud and sovereign nation. And I think our long history and our relationship with the United States reflects that we have always been a trusted and valued partner, and we will always continue to be. The remarks that we have heard over the past few weeks are deeply concerning and, in many respects, profoundly disappointing. And I would hope that the United States would recognise the value of Canada as a neighbor, as an ally, as a friend, and as a partner."
5. Blair leaving
STORYLINE:
German Defense Minister described U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s comments on Greenland as “astonishing”.
"It’s a little bit, let me express it diplomatically, astonishing to read things like that and to hear it in the television,” said Boris Pistorius at a news conference in Ramstein following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
“I don’t know what his objectives are to do that. But anyway, alliances are alliances to stay alliances, regardless who is governing in countries.”
Earlier in the week, Trump said he would not rule out the use of military force to seize control of the Panama Canal and Greenland — an autonomous territory of Denmark, a longtime U.S. ally and a member of NATO and the European Union.
He declared U.S. control of both to be vital to American national security.
Trump’s comment, meanwhile, that Canada should become the 51st state was described as “deeply concerning” by Canada’s defense minister.
“Canada is a very proud and sovereign nation. And I think our long history and our relationship with the United States reflects that we have always been a trusted and valued partner, and we will always continue to be,” said Bill Blair.
“The remarks that we have heard over the past few weeks are deeply concerning and in many respects profoundly disappointing," he said.
Trump kept floating the idea that Canada should join the United States as the 51st state, saying on Tuesday he would not use military force to invade the country, which is home to more than 40 million people and is a founding NATO partner.
AP video shot by Daniel Niemann
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