September 23, 2025RED FM News DeskA group of U.S. Republican lawmakers has cautioned Prime Minister Mark Carney and several allied leaders that recognizing a Palestinian state could trigger “punitive measures” for breaking with longstanding American foreign policy. In an open letter released Friday, 25 Republican members of Congress and Senators urged Carney to reverse his government’s decision, which was announced Sunday ahead of his arrival in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. The letter was also sent to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron — all of whom joined Canada and more than 140 nations in formally recognizing Palestinian statehood. They also noted that Hamas continues to hold Israeli and foreign hostages in “deplorable conditions,” using them as bargaining chips. Carney and other leaders have defended the move as an effort to put new pressure on peace negotiations in the Middle East.