Canadian ​Prime Minister Mark Carney, asked about reports that U.S. ‌officials had met separatists seeking independence for the ​province of Alberta on Thursday (January 29, 2026), said he expected the U.S. administration to respect Canadian sovereignty. “We ​expect the U.S. administration to respect Canadian sovereignty. I'm ⁠always clear in my conversations with President Trump to that effect,” Mr. Carney told a press conference. Mr. Trump, he added, had never raised the question ​of Alberta separatism with him. Mr. Carney, who calls the U.S. President a skilled negotiator, suggests some of Mr. Trump’s recent comments could be tied to a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade pact that is due ⁠to start later this year.