US officials have held private meetings with activists advocating for the independence of the Canadian province of Alberta, which shares a border with the United States, the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing sources. According to these sources, leaders of the right-wing Alberta secessionist Alberta Prosperity Project have met with State Department representatives in Washington three times since April of last year. The US State Department confirmed regular contacts with representatives of civil society, emphasizing that no commitments are undertaken during such meetings, FT noted. US President Donald Trump had previously called for Canada to join the United States and become the 51st state. Canadian authorities have repeatedly rejected the possibility of joining the United States.