Frank Kuin

Correspondent @nrc (Amsterdam). Based in Montreal, stints in Toronto, Vancouver, New York. Covered topics from Mexican border to High Arctic.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@acoyne One day he’ll try to deny he ever actually meant it this way

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@MsMelChen One of the most toxic fallouts from the Trump years is Trump's endless bullying, Melissa.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

They should be so lucky

[Lucas Sanders 👊🏽🔥🇺🇸 @LucasSa56947288]

Sean Hannity suggests that the US could end up like Canada if the Democrats win the midterms.

That would be great!

[Karl Schamotta @Karl_Schamotta]

Someone just pointed out that—almost unbelievably—this is real footage from a fight in which the Canada goose ultimately prevailed over the eagle: https://t.co/wLQ6O7ccqf

If this isn't a metaphor for US trade policy, I don't know what is.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@KarenMessier @realBrandonGill Supporting his Mafia Boss works for him, he gets lots of money.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@sarobertson_ Why is C-Span talking to Navarro as if he’s a legit source?

[Senator Thom Tillis @SenThomTillis]

America is grateful for every nation that answered the call after we were attacked on 9/11 and served with our forces on the frontlines in Afghanistan. Their sacrifices should never be forgotten.

UK 457
Canada 159
France 90
Germany 62
Italy 53
Poland 44
Denmark 43
Australia 41
Spain 35
Georgia 32
Romania 27
Netherlands 25
Turkey 15
Czech Republic 14
New Zealand 10
Norway 10
Estonia 9
Hungary 7
Sweden 5
Latvia 4
Slovakia 3
Finland 2
Jordan 2
Portugal 2
South Korea 2
Albania 2
Belgium 1
Bulgaria 1
Croatia 1
Lithuania 1
Montenegro 1

[Andrew Perloff @andrewperloff]

You gotta hear Gretzky try to pronounce Curaçao.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@jppl1979 @WSJ *Incorrectly*

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@ikwilson Presenting reasoned, valid arguments is not “attacking”. Let’s keep in perspective who is doing the attacking here.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@MarcNixon24 When the Conservatives form government in Canada and the Dems are in power in the US, will Alberta have a referendum on returning?

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@ScottRCarpenter Huh? He secured a deal with Canada, it’s called USMCA.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

But this week, sitting next to the U.S. president who rambled about annexing #Canada — a founding NATO ally — Rutte, now secretary-general of the alliance, said… nothing.

[CBC Politics @CBCPolitics]

Dutch PM Mark Rutte spoke to Parliament today and thanked Canada for its role in liberating the Netherlands during WWII - and he thanked one veteran, Don White, in particular. Read and watch more: https://t.co/321luyzdJR

[Arnaud Bertrand @RnaudBertrand]

If you need one video to understand NATO, that's the one.

Trump is speaking about annexing Canada and Greenland (both part of NATO) and NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte not only sits there without any objection whatsoever, but goes out of his way to be obsequious with Trump, praising him endlessly and saying that he "needs the clip for his family" when Trump praises him back.

When Trump suggests NATO "might have to get involved" in the annexation of Greenland, the Secretary General—whose primary job is defending territorial integrity of member states—responds by trying to "leave that outside" the discussion because he doesn't "want to drag NATO in that." The very idea that NATO's chief would treat a member's territorial annexation as a topic to disregard when it's the U.S. doing it is all you need to know about the "alliance".

Right afterwards, Trump boasts that "we have a couple of bases on Greenland already and quite a few soldiers," before suggesting to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that "maybe you'll see more and more soldiers go there" in an obvious hint at seizing the territory by force. Which incidentally illustrates the absurdity of Trump's demand: with these bases, the U.S. already has the strategic foothold it claims to need in Greenland. And all the while, even as the threat of military annexation is voiced out loud, Rutte sits in silence.

Same thing for Canada: Trump says "we have to do this, I'm sorry", referring to annexing Canada and making it a state, calling Canada potentially "one of our greatest states" and noting how "incredible" the country would look visually as part of the U.S.. Meanwhile at no moment does Rutte make any attempt to defend Canada's sovereignty or explain how that violates just about every principle of NATO's treaty.

All in all, this exchange strips bare the reality of power within NATO: an alliance that's supposed to be about mutual defense but which in reality is a vehicle - or at the very least an enabler - for its most powerful member's imperial ambitions. It had been clear for a while when one studied NATO's behavior towards countries outside the alliance, but now even its members must face the uncomfortable truth that the very organization they joined for security could assist in their aggression.

[Steven Chase @stevenchase]

Trump on Canada: “Canada has been very abusive of the United States for many years.”
“We’re not well treated by Canada.”

Trump on Russia: “We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together.”

[Justin Trudeau @JustinTrudeau]

I just had a good call with President Trump. Canada is implementing our $1.3 billion border plan — reinforcing the border with new choppers, technology and personnel, enhanced coordination with our American partners, and increased resources to stop the flow of fentanyl. Nearly 10,000 frontline personnel are and will be working on protecting the border.

In addition, Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.

Proposed tariffs will be paused for at least 30 days while we work together.

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

@dockevinmcleod @Marcy17203312 It’s not a fair point, Kevin. Inflation is not a made in Canada issue, as you probably know.

[Rory Johnston @Rory_Johnston]

and y'all want to invade Canada?!

[Frank Kuin @frankkuin]

Totality in #Montreal #Eclipse2024