TORONTO – “How dare he? We are the USA’s best friends.” These were reactions of those who took offense at Donald Trump’s belittlement of our Prime Minister and our National Sovereignty, a mere 48 hours after they applauded Prime Minister’s dinner at Mar-O-Lago with the incoming President.  

Well, they probably had not looked at the two adjacent charts – Trump must have seen some form of them. Thanks to reports from the International Monetary Fund (2024) and to Visual Capitalist (December 2024), we can simply imagine the old adage that says: countries do not have friends; they only have interests.

One cannot help but think that the target of Trump’s anger is China, secondarily India both of whose labour resources and domestic consumer market (roughly 1.5 billion people each) dwarfs the USA market (c. 340 million) and that of its allies in Europe (c. 360 million).

In fact, risking “minor inconveniences” with two allies whose economic value, while important, may be worth the message he wants to convey to the Asian [and other] emerging powers. The world is changing. Buckle up.

Article, researches and graphics by Priscilla Pajdo, founded by Heritage Canada’s Intership Program; editing by Joe Volpe