The relationship between the United States and Canada continues to deteriorate. According to the Financial Times, secret negotiations between representatives of the White House and leaders of the Alberta Prosperity Project (APP)—an organization advocating for the separation of the province of Alberta from Canada—have become more frequent.
Sources from the publication revealed that since April 2025, APP delegates have visited Washington three times for discussions with the State Department. A new round of negotiations is expected to take place in February of this year, with the separatists intending to request a loan of $500 billion from the U.S., which is planned to be used to ensure the economic stability of the region in the event of a referendum on independence.
APP legal advisor Jeff Rath, who participated in the discussions, noted that the American side shows significant interest in the potential creation of a "free Alberta." According to him, interactions with Donald Trump's team are more productive than with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and his government.
However, official representatives in Washington are trying to maintain distance. The State Department confirmed the existence of contacts, describing them as "standard communication with civil society representatives," emphasizing that no promises have been made to the separatists. The White House also denied information about providing material assistance, stating that the Treasury Department is not even considering the possibility of issuing a half-trillion-dollar loan.
Experts emphasize that Washington's interest in Alberta is pragmatic, as this province is a key supplier of oil to the U.S. The situation is complicated by personal tensions between the leaders of the two countries: after Mark Carney sharply criticized Trump at a forum and Canada supported Greenland's position, the American president excluded Canada from his Peace Council. In this context, contacts with Alberta's separatists may be seen as a way to exert pressure on Ottawa.
