SHANNON, Ireland (AFP) — United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not raise Canada’s sovereignty when he visits Quebec later Wednesday for Group of Seven talks, despite taunts by President Donald Trump.

“We’re going to be focused in the G7 and all of those things,” he said, mentioning the war in Ukraine. “That’s what the meeting is about. This isn’t a meeting about how we’re going to take over Canada.”

But he defended Trump’s tough approach to Canada, where leaders have spoken of an existential threat from their southern neighbour.

Trump has said “it should become the 51st state from an economic standpoint,” Rubio told reporters on a refuelling stop in Ireland following a trip to Saudi Arabia.

“He said that if they became the 51st state, we wouldn’t have to worry about the border and fentanyl coming across, because now we will be able to manage that,” Rubio said.

“He’s made an argument that it’s their interest to do so. Obviously, the Canadians don’t agree,” he said.

He downplayed the impact on relations, noting that Canada — current president of the G7 — still invited the United States to attend the foreign ministerial talks in Quebec.

“They’ve invited us to come. We intend to go. The alternative is to not go. I think that would actually make things worse, not better,” he said.